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.
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.