California has passed Assembly Bill (AB) 685 requiring employers to notify employees and contractors in the event of a “potential exposure” to COVID-19 and alert local health departments about coronavirus “outbreaks” in their workplaces. The law takes effect on January 1, 2021.
Sending Exposure Notice to Employees
Under the new law, except in limited circumstances, a California public or private employer (or its representative) that receives a notice of potential exposure to COVID-19 must issue a notice to employees at the facility or worksite within one business day. A “potential exposure” includes when an employee:
