For your protection, California law requires the following statement:

Warning: Workers’ Compensation Fraud is a FELONY.

Anyone who knowingly files or assists in the filing of a false Workers’ Compensation Claim may be fined up to $50,000 and sent to prison up to five years (§1871.4 California Labor Code). This includes any person who makes or causes to be made any knowingly false or fraudulent material representation for the purpose of obtaining or denying Workers’ Compensation benefits.

California’s Workers’ Compensation laws originated in 1913 with the belief that the burden of the work related injury should be placed upon the Employer - not on the Employee, even if the Employee is the most proximate cause of the injury - in other words, a "no fault" system.

The law also provides protection against discrimination to anyone who files a claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits.

This publication has been designed to present basic information concerning the County’s Workers’ Compensation Benefits Program. Should you have questions you may contact the Workers’ Compensation Coordinator in the office of Risk Management at 650/363-4612.

When an Employee is injured, the Labor Code mandates certain benefits are to be made available to the Employee immediately. The scope of benefits an injured Employee is entitled to is regulated by the State. The following outlines, in general, the full spectrum of Workers’ Compensation Benefits:

  • Medical Treatment
  • Temporary Disability
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Permanent Disability Compensation
  • In the event of death, a Death Benefit