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By Eman Yazdchi, Esq. · Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
In California, Labor Code section 3551 requires the employer to provide each new employee at hire and each injured worker after an industrial injury with individualized written notice of workers' compensation rights, the claim-filing process, and the §4616 medical-provider-network rules. The section 3551 California notice is separate from the §3550 workplace poster.
California Labor Code section 3551 requires the California employer to provide each new employee at the time of hire — and each injured worker after an industrial injury — with individualized written notice of workers' compensation rights, the claim-filing process, the California Labor Code §4616 California medical-provider-network (MPN) rules where applicable, the right to file a comp claim under California Labor Code §3600 California, and the prohibition on retaliation under California Labor Code §132a California. The section 3551 California notice is in addition to the California Labor Code section 3550 workplace poster and is delivered directly to the individual employee, not just posted in the workplace. The section 3551 California rule ensures every worker has personal notice of comp rights at the two most important moments — hire and injury.
Under California Labor Code section 3551, the California new-hire notice must contain: the identity of the California employer's workers' compensation insurance carrier and contact information; the California employee's right to file a workers' compensation claim under California Labor Code §3600 California for industrial injuries; the California employee's right to medical treatment under California Labor Code §4600 California; the California employer's California Labor Code §4616 California medical-provider-network (MPN) information including how to access the MPN and how to predesignate a personal physician; the California State Information and Assistance Officer contact information; and the prohibition on retaliation under California Labor Code §132a California. The section 3551 California notice is typically delivered as part of the new-hire onboarding packet.
Under California Labor Code section 3551, when an industrial injury occurs and the California employer has knowledge of it, the employer must provide the California injured worker with the section 3551 California injury notice within one working day. The notice must include: the DWC-1 claim form (which starts the California Labor Code §5402 California 90-day presumption-of-acceptance clock); information about how to access medical treatment through the California Labor Code §4616 California MPN or through a predesignated personal physician; the rights to California Labor Code §4653 California temporary disability if the worker is unable to work; and the contact information for the California State Information and Assistance Officer for free claims help.
Under California Labor Code section 3551, California Labor Code §5402(b) (90-day presumption of acceptance), and California Labor Code §5402(c) (insurer investigation period), the California claim-acceptance framework is tied closely to the section 3551 California notice. The section 3551 California rule requires the employer to deliver the DWC-1 claim form to the injured worker within one working day of knowledge of injury; the worker completes and returns the form; this starts the California Labor Code §5402 California 90-day clock during which the insurer must accept or deny. Failure to comply with the section 3551 notice can delay the California Labor Code §5402 California clock and create evidentiary problems.
Under California Labor Code section 3551 (individual notice), California Labor Code section 3550 (workplace poster), and California Labor Code §5400 (employee 30-day notice to employer), the California notice framework stacks at multiple points. Section 3550 California posts general comp rights in the workplace; section 3551 California delivers individualized notice at hire and at the moment of injury; and California Labor Code §5400 California then requires the California injured worker to give the employer 30-day written notice of an industrial injury or risk forfeiting the claim. The three California sections together create a two-way notice system where the employer informs the worker, and the worker is required to give notice back.
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Tap to call →Last reviewed by Eman Yazdchi, Esq., May 2026.
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