Required Labor Posters: State Guide

Small-business owners who meet federal or state size requirements must have state and federal labor and employment laws displayed where they are visible to employees. Federal and state labor law posters are available for download on the corresponding department of labor websites. The posters are available in English and Spanish, and you can order them in other languages. Private vendors have better-quality versions of the required posters for sale.

Workplace posters are often displayed in break rooms or locker rooms, although there is no required location for the signs. Federal and state posting requirements only ask that the posters be visible to all employees during the workday.

Not all businesses need every compliance poster. Depending on the size and nature of your business, you may need some or all of them. Always check your state and federal requirements before printing and posting, as the laws can change.

Required Federal Labor Posters

The federal government has a roster of posters and labor law poster requirements for businesses of various sizes and types. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)'s FirstStep Poster Advisor can help you determine which posters you need when ordering. The most commonly used posters include:

• Employee rights under FLSA poster: This explains minimum wage laws and overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• OSHA job safety poster: All private employers overseen by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration must have this posted where workers can easily see it.
• FMLA poster: All employers with more than 50 workers are subject to the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• EEO “Know Your Rights" poster: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) requires employers to post federal nondiscrimination laws at all worksites.
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act poster: All companies engaged in or affecting commerce must have the EPPA poster notifying employees of their right to refuse lie detector tests.
• Rights under USERRA poster: Provide this notice to employees entitled to benefits under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

Federal contractors, companies with workers with disabilities subject to special minimum wage laws, and agricultural companies who hire migrant or seasonal workers need special notices that they can give to workers.

Required State Labor Posters

State labor laws may differ slightly from federal laws. They may apply to businesses with fewer employees or offer increased benefits. For example, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The minimum wage in California, as of 2023, is $15.50 per hour. The minimum wage poster in California reflects both the federal and state minimum wages.

Other state-specific posters may include:

• Unemployment insurance
• Workers' compensation insurance
• Child labor laws and human trafficking warnings
• State health protection requirements and PPE warnings

Potential Penalties for Failure To Comply

Penalties for failing to post federal labor law posters range from monetary fines to citations and other liabilities. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) handles all penalties and fines.

The labor department in your state should help with the necessary employment law posters for your business. Click on your state or district from the list below to learn more.

Questions? Talk to an Attorney

Small businesses don't always fit into tidy categories. Determining whether you're covered by a particular law can be confusing. Contact an experienced employment law attorney if you have questions about which labor posters are required for your business.