New California Workers’ Compensation regulations went into effect on January 1, 2016. The regulations revised several employee benefit notices so that injured workers have a clearer understanding of their rights and responsibilities in the workers’ compensation claims process and to reduce litigation. The regulations also revised the mandatory Workers’ Compensation posting, Notice to Employees – Injuries Caused by Work.
The revised Notice to Employees advises employees of additional benefits and limits on other specified benefits; clarifies the meaning of permanent disability; and updates information on the roles of the predesignated personal physician, medical provider network (MPN) and health care organization (HCO), and claims administrator when the employer is not using an MPN or HCO. The notice also informs employees that they can access the publication “Workers’ Compensation in California: A Guidebook for Injured Workers” on the DWC website.
The information an employer must fill in on the Notice to Employees has also changed. The MPN’s identification number replaces the employer’s MPN’s address. There are also spaces for additional MPN contact information. The requirement of posting a separate MPN notice and the workers’ compensation policy expiration date were removed.
All employers are required to post the updated Notice to Employees and to provide the information required. For employers that have not updated to the new Notice to Employees workplace posting, there is still time to comply. Compliance Poster Company has two update options. California All-On-One™ Posters have been updated to include the 2016 Notice to Employees. CPC has also created a 2016 Workers’ Compensation Peel ‘N Post™ to easily update 2015 California All-On-One posters. Sill have compliance questions? Give us a call!