Private plans built
for ROI, backed by
25+ years of expertise.
Offer richer benefits at $0 net cost to your business. Larkin is America’s premier leave provider specializing in full-service design, state filing, and claim management for Private Plans and California Voluntary Plans.
Your plan is in good hands with North America’s
first and best Private Plan partner.
25+ years of experience.
Larkin has administered Private Plans longer than any vendor in the U.S.
Coverage for all states & Canada.
Larkin provides Private Plan services in all applicable regions.
Deep California expertise.
We built our Private Plan service in the nation’s trickiest regulatory state.
Zero risk. Lighter work.
We handle the compliance.
You enjoy the ROI.
Private and Voluntary Plans offer higher payouts, but navigating state regulations requires specialized expertise. Most leave vendors aren't set-up for the complexity, but it’s what we built our business around.
We own filings, reporting, and claim execution, so nothing gets missed. Your employees get richer benefits and lower contributions. You get better ROI and no extra workload.
Request A Feasibility StudyEasy rollout. Safe management.
Get your plan up and running fast
We could have your plan live in <60 days. Here’s how we do it.
Step 1
Employee Engagement
We make starting simple. We draft your plan, communicate with employees, host educational presentations, and manage employee voting surveys when required.
Step 2
Financial & Payroll Integration
We take on the tough work. We work with your team to establish compliant banking structures, configure payroll tax codes, and process and fund flows.
Step 3
State Filing & Compliance
We tackle all the tricky work and save you state headaches. We prepare legal plan documentation, file formal applications with the state, secure official approval, issue employee notices, and help with reporting.
Maintenance
Annual Security Re-Evaluation
We keep you compliant by recalculating required plan security deposits every year using updated state formulas and projected workforce wages.
Maintenance
Mandatory Reporting
We assist with preparing mandatory reporting and will submit to the state on your behalf, where applicable.
Optimization
Disability Management Review
We analyze annual claims data to evaluate plan performance, optimize surplus reserves, lower employee tax rates, or increase payout caps.
See how Larkin generated $30mil in savings for a top Silicon Valley employer with a Voluntary Plan.
What was one top California employer’s secret to bypassing state bureaucracy while dramatically enriching their return? See how Larkin’s custom Voluntary Plan delivered:
- $3,000 Weekly Max Benefit: Nearly double the state max.
- $6 Million Plan Surplus: over 10+ years with no employer cost.
- Zero EDD Jams: Direct 1:1 support that bypassed state queues.
The Larkin Difference
State Plan vs. Larkin Private Plan
Swipe the table sideways →
Get the Voluntary Plan Playbook in our on-demand webinar
Stream the on-demand webinar, “SDI Too High?” to go past definitions and into decisions: when a Voluntary Plan makes a measurable difference, what to model before you move, and how rollout works without piling work onto your team.
Stream it nowGet better leave ROI
What could you get out of a Larkin Private Plan?
Find out, risk free, with a feasibility study. Fill out the form and a leave and compliance expert will be in touch to see if a Private Plan is right for your organization
We Go Further For You
Put 25 years of expertise to work for your business and people.
Get started with LarkinWhat is a Private or Voluntary Plan in leave administration?
A Private Plan or Voluntary Plan is a state-approved private alternative to a state-mandated disability or paid family leave program. It allows employers to self-insure leave benefits, providing coverage equal to or greater than statutory state requirements while offering lower employee contribution rates, higher weekly benefit caps, and faster claim payouts.
Does a Voluntary Plan cost my company anything?
In most cases, no. Employee contributions are designed to cover both benefit payouts and administrative costs (with one exception), including Larkin’s fees, and a plan can never charge employees more than the state program would.
Can we set our own wage ceiling for contributions?
In some states, yes. Wage ceilings and contribution caps are set at the state level and vary. California has eliminated theirs, meaning every dollar of pay is now taxable. A wage ceiling can also create a funding gap the employer has to cover, since state assessments are based on each employee’s full taxable wages. Larkin will walk you through what’s possible in your state and the tradeoffs involved.
What happens if employee contributions aren’t enough to cover plan costs?
If a plan’s costs exceed employee contributions in a given period, the employer is responsible for subsidizing the plan or lending it money until contributions catch up. Larkin mitigates this risk with conservative forecasting and full transparency into plan performance, so surprises are rare.
Do employees have to participate?
It depends on the state. Some states require employee approval before a private plan can take effect, while others do not. Where a vote is required, Larkin helps employers prepare employee communications and manage the process.
How is the plan kept financially secure?
Where required by the state, Private Plans must obtain a security, usually in the form of a bond. As required by the state, Larkin reviews and advises on any change required to a security for the duration of the plan.
What is the CA Voluntary Plan EE deduction on my paycheck?
CA Voluntary Plan EE is the payroll deduction for a California Voluntary Plan, an employer sponsored alternative to State Disability Insurance. Instead of paying into the state fund, your contribution funds a private plan that must equal or exceed state benefits. Questions about your specific deduction go to your HR team; employers curious about offering a Voluntary Plan can start with a free feasibility study.