COVID-19 in the Workplace
AB 685 Reporting Requirements for Employers
This year, the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed into law AB 685 (Reyes, D-Los Angeles) providing COVID-19 reporting requirements for employers.  

This new law does the following:                                            
  • Requires employers to notify employees who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and to report workplace outbreaks to the local health department. 
  • Requires the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to publicly report information on workplace outbreaks. 
  • Authorizes Cal/OSHA to enforce COVID-19 hazards as an imminent hazard to provide immediate protection for workers. 
 
AB 685 is unclear in exactly what is required, and it overlaps with existing guidance from the CDPH.  To address this confusion and overlap, CDPH has released a guidance document clarifying what is required under AB 685 and a questions and answers sheet addressing potential confusion with how to comply with AB 685.  Additionally, Cal/OSHA has outlined how the bill enhances enforcement of COVID-19 in the workplace.
 
It is important to note that AB 685 takes effect in January.  However, CDPH's guidance, "Responding to COVID-19 in the Workplace for Employers," also requires employers to notify local health departments if there are three or more cases of COVID-19 in their workplace, within a 2-week period. CDPH states that this requirement is already in effect, so employers must follow it now.  The additional requirements under AB 685 go into effect on January 1, 2021. 
 
Please review the CDPH documents carefully and consult with your human resources professional or legal counsel on what is required in your specific workplace. 
Resources: (Clickable links below)
QUESTIONS? Please Contact:
Michael Miiller, Director of Government Relations

C: (916) 204-0485.