TPO HR Experts Information for Employers
TPO - The HR Experts, are encouraging employers to provide information to employees and suggests the CDC website as the authoritative source. Additionally, reminders about washing hands and staying home when sick are recommended.
For the CA Paid Sick Leave (PSL) requirement, you cannot require a doctor's note. However, this only applies to the PSL portion (where employees can use up to 3 days a year). Therefore, if an employee is out more than that, a doctor's note can be required. Your handbook states, "A healthcare provider's certificate may be required for absences of four or more consecutive work shifts." A challenge you might find is they take these extra days not all consecutively (a day here, a day there, bridged with a weekend, etc.), and in that case, requiring a doctor's note would likely be impractical.
Additionally, several government sites address the issue in terms of not over-burdening the already over-stressed medical industry. From OSHA: "As a practical matter, however, doctors and other health care professionals may be too busy during and immediately after a pandemic outbreak to provide fitness-for-duty documentation." Something to definitely take into consideration.
Resource Information for Coronavirus / COVID-19:
CDC for Employers
Note the "if you are sick, stay home" poster. Not required but may be a good idea and contains the CDC website.
Labor Commissioner
https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.htm
Note that you cannot make an employee use their PSL.
Littler Article
https://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/coronavirus-covid-19-employer-faqs
Note the prevention of harassment/discrimination of employees.
EEOC, Pandemic Viruses
https://www.eeoc.gov/facts/pandemic_flu.html
Note that an employer may send employees home if they display influenza-like symptoms during a pandemic.
CA Executive Order 3/12/2020
Note this waives the one-week waiting period for unemployment and disability insurance for Californians who lose work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
OSHA
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/
Note the recommendation to develop an Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan.
CA EDD Programs
https://www.edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm
Office of Business and Economic Development