Required Workplace Posters

As a small business owner, you need to make sure you are always following the laws that affect your industry. In addition to observing the mountain of federal and state laws that have been written to protect both the employer and the employee, business owners must also post these laws at the workplace.

While most business owners are careful to comply with the law, those who do not may find themselves being fined or dealing with lawsuits from angry employees who are just looking for an excuse to cause trouble. Of all the federal and state regulations you have to be concerned about, this is probably the easiest one of all to follow. Once you have obtained the correct posters, it is simply a matter of hanging them in the employee cafeteria, break room, or other prominent location.

Some posters are also required to be displayed in areas where job applicants can see them, so make sure you put the proper posters in the correct locations. The United States Department of Labor makes all of the posters available, both in English and in Spanish. Also, there are many private companies that publish the posters in a combined “large display” board, which makes it even easier to hang them.

Some of the posters that are required to be displayed include:

• Fair Labor Standards Act. Also known as FLSA, this poster describes in detail the laws regarding minimum wages that must be paid to your employees.
• Family and Medical Leave Act. Also known as FMLA, this poster lists the major provisions of the laws that affect employees who are eligible for an extended leave.
• Job Safety & Health Protection — OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). This poster describes workers' rights using "plain language," in keeping with the goals of the National Partnership interagency task force. The poster depicts a variety of workers — from chefs to linemen to hospital personnel — and explains succinctly how workers may file a complaint, report an emergency, or seek OSHA advice, all with the right of confidentiality.
• Equal Employment Opportunity Act. Every employer covered by the nondiscrimination and EEO laws is required to post the "Equal Employment Opportunity Is the Law" poster on its premises. The notice must be posted prominently where it can be readily seen by employees and applicants for employment. The notice provides information concerning the laws and procedures for filing complaints of violations of the laws with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).
• Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. Also known as USERRA, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 was amended by President Bush on December 10, 2004. The recent changes to USERRA include an increase in health benefit continuation rights from 18 months to 24 months.

In addition, if you are a federal contractor, the following posters should be displayed as well:

• The Davis-Bacon Act
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Beck Poster — Notice of Employee Rights Concerning Payment of Union Dues
• Beck Poster — Notice of Employee Rights Concerning Payment of Union Dues for Contractors Subject to the Railway Labor Act

Remember to contact your local state agency's Department of Labor to see what posters they also require you to post.