Section 3551.  


Latest version.
  • (a) Every employer subject to the compensation provisions of this code, except employers of employees defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3351, shall give every new employee, either at the time the employee is hired or by the end of the first pay period, written notice of the information contained in Section 3550. The content of the notice required by this section shall be prescribed by the administrative director after consultation with the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation.

    (b) The notice required by this section shall be easily understandable and available in both English and Spanish. In addition to the information contained in Section 3550, the content of the notice required by this section shall include:

    (1) Generally, how to obtain appropriate medical care for a job injury.

    (2) The role and function of the primary treating physician.

    (3) A form that the employee may use as an optional method for notifying the employer of the name of the employee's "personal physician," as defined by Section 4600, or "personal chiropractor," as defined by Section 4601.

    (c) The content of the notice required by this section shall be made available to employers and insurers by the administrative director. Insurers shall provide this notice to each of their policyholders, with advice concerning the requirements of this section and the penalties for a failure to provide this notice to all employees.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 6, Sec. 45. Effective January 1, 2003.)