Determining which, if any, labor law posters are required for your business can be a confusing and time-consuming task. Requirements to post labor law posters vary based on your organization’s location, industry, workforce, and any local, state, and federal laws that mandate posting.
In this article, we’ll explore which organizations require labor law posters, how employee classification affects posting, and what you can do to remain fully compliant with updated labor law posters to keep your organization aligned with legislative changes.
Which Businesses and Organizations Need Labor Law Posters
Labor law posters are designed to educate your employees regarding their legal rights, benefits, and the steps necessary to report workplace violations. As a general rule, businesses or organizations with even one employee must post all applicable local, state, and federal labor law posters.
Even if you have primarily or exclusively remote employees, you still must provide your employees access to all required local, state, and federal labor law posters. When workplace configuration (remote work, hybrid-at-will work) prevents an employee from regularly viewing labor law posters in person, you are required to email or share electronic versions of the posters to remain compliant.
If your organization employs a mixture of volunteers, contractors, and employees (one or more), you must display or electronically distribute all applicable labor law posters to remain compliant. Requirements for labor law posting are only waived if your workforce is exclusively volunteers and/or contractors.
Federal contractors and subcontractors are not exempt from labor law posting. In fact, any organization that contracts with the federal government is required to post labor law posters, including some that are specifically related to services rendered as a federal contractor.
Where to Display Posters and Which Posters Are Required
Although on-site posting requirements vary, it’s best to post any physical posters in a high-traffic office area: near the office entrance, a break room, or another space frequently used by employees. Certain posters (EEO, EPPA, and FMLA) must be conspicuously displayed in an area where job applicants can see them, as well.
There are a host of federal posters that must be displayed in most workplaces, ranging from the FLSA’s Minimum Wage poster to posters related to OSHA, the Davis-Bacon Act, and more. Federal posters are only one part of the equation, but the U.S. Department of Labor’s FirstStep Poster Advisor can help you determine which federal posters your business will need.
Local and State Poster Law Requirements
Local and state labor laws often differ from (or expand upon) federal requirements. This impacts labor law posting requirements, especially those related to minimum wage, child labor, minimum paid rest periods, minimum meal periods, payday requirements and prevailing wages. Language requirements can also vary greatly based on location and industry, with some municipalities requiring posters in three or more languages, while others require consistent bilingual (English and Spanish) posters.
Penalties and Fees for Noncompliance
Any organization that fails to post state or federal labor law posters can be fined up to $17,000, with individual fines ranging from $110 to $10,000 per violation. Additional local fines vary based on the location of your organization and to what degree laws were knowingly or routinely violated. Often, violations are discovered in the course of local, state, or federal agency inspections or investigations, and sometimes as a result of individual employee reports of company violations or failure(s) to post.
Enjoy Stress-Free Poster Solutions with Cello HR
Cello HR offers fully laminated, all-in-one federal and state labor law posters on a subscription basis. We also provide a poster update service backed by a $25,000 We Pay the Fine Guarantee, with timely delivery of E-Updates and digital posters when requested or required. These services protect your company from any negative, compliance-related consequences related to sudden shifts in labor law or display policies. Regardless of the posting requirements that apply to your industry, workforce, and location, our labor law poster solutions can keep your employees informed and your organization legally compliant.
Ready to enjoy peace of mind as you complete your core projects and business goals? Contact us today to start our collaboration.