Current law requires an injured employee or someone else with
knowledge of the injury to notify the employer within 4 days after the occurrence of an on-the-job injury, authorizes a reduction in compensation to the injured employee for failure to timely notify the employer, and tolls the 4-day period if the employer has failed to post a notice specifying the injured employee's notification deadline. The bill
changes the 4-day notice period to a 14-day notice period and repeals the tolling and compensation reduction provisions.
The bill also changes the notice that an employer is required to
post in the workplace to require that the notice state the name and contact information of the insurer and that the:
•
Employer is responsible for payment of workers' compensation insurance;
•
Injured employee has rights under the law if the employer fails to carry workers' compensation insurance;
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Employee should seek medical attention; and
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Injury must be reported in writing to the employer.
With regard to occupational diseases, the bill also: •
Repeals the requirement that an employee notify the employer of an occupational disease within 30 days of contraction of the disease and instead requires an employee to notify the employer upon manifestation of the disease;
•
Repeals the provision that states that an employer is deemed to waive a failure to give notice of an occupational disease or death resulting from the disease unless the employer objects at a hearing on the claim prior to any award or decision; and
•
Repeals the provision that allows the director of the division of workers' compensation to reduce the compensation to be paid if the required notice is not made in a timely manner.
