2026 Labor Law Poster Changes: What Employers Need to Know

As we move toward 2026, employers across the United States should prepare for a wide range of state labor law updates, most of which take effect on January 1, 2026. These changes include minimum wage increases, expanded leave rights, and revised required notices that bring workplace compliance documents up to date with new state regulations. The summaries below outline what to expect in each state. 

Arizona

Beginning January 1, 2026, Arizona’s minimum wage will rise from $14.70 to $15.15 per hour. The tipped wage provisions remain unchanged, and the required posting has been updated with minor formatting improvements. In addition to the statewide update, both Flagstaff and Tucson have announced new local minimum wage rates for 2026:The minimum wage in Flagstaff has increased to $18.35 and the minimum wage for Tucson has increased to $15.45 per hour.

California

Effective January 1, 2026, the California minimum wage will increase from $16.50 to $16.90 per hour. This adjustment is part of the state’s annual inflation-based wage update. The revised minimum wage notice has been incorporated into the California labor law posters and is now fully updated for 2026.

Colorado

Effective January 1, 2026, the Colorado Wage & Hour Rights notice reflects an increase to the state minimum wage from $14.81 to $15.16 per hour. The salary threshold for exempt executive, administrative, and professional employees also increases to $57,784 annually. In addition, Colorado’s FAMLI Program now allows up to 12 additional weeks of paid family and medical leave for covered individuals caring for an infant in a neonatal intensive care unit. A revised FAMLI Notice has been issued to highlight employee rights and benefit eligibility.

Connecticut

Effective January 1, 2026, the Connecticut Paid Sick Leave notice expands coverage to employers with 11 or more employees, reducing the prior threshold of 25 employees. For newly covered employers with 11–24 employees, existing employees will begin accruing paid sick leave on January 1, 2026, while new hires will accrue leave starting on their first day of employment. In addition, the Connecticut Administrative Regulations notice has been updated to reflect the 2026 minimum wage increase from $16.35 to $16.94 per hour.

District of Columbia

The 2026 District of Columbia Paid Family Leave Notice reflects an increase in the maximum weekly benefit amount from $1,153 to $1,190. The notice also includes minor administrative updates, such as a new revision date, to ensure employers display the most current and accurate information for compliance.

Illinois

The 2026 Illinois "Your Rights Under Employment Laws" notice adds new protections for employees who are victims of violent crimes. Effective January 1, 2026, employers are prohibited from discriminating or retaliating against employees who use employer-issued electronic devices to document domestic, sexual, or gender violence and must provide access to related data stored on those devices. In addition, agency address and email contact information has been updated on the Illinois OSHA “It’s the Law” and the VESSA "Victims’ Economic Security & Safety Act" notices.

Louisiana

The updated Louisiana Unemployment Insurance Notice now specifies that claimants complete at least five valid work-search actions each week, replacing the prior general “active work search” standard. The revision also expands and clarifies disqualification criteria, adding specific conditions such as failure to appear for scheduled interviews, failure to accept suitable work within the required timeframe, and failure to participate in approved training programs.

Maine

Effective January 1, 2026, Maine’s minimum wage will rise from $14.65 to $15.10 per hour, and coverage will now explicitly include both agricultural and non-agricultural workers. The minimum salary threshold for overtime exemption will increase to 871.16 per week, up from 845.21. The tipped service employee cash wage will rise from 7.33 to 7.55 per hour, and the monthly tip threshold required for service employee classification will increase from 185 to 191.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts has released the updated 2026 Paid Family and Medical Leave Notice. Beginning January 1, 2026, the maximum weekly PFML benefit will increase from 1,170.64 to 1,230.39, reflecting annual cost-of-living adjustments.

Minnesota

On January 1, 2026, Minnesota will implement its new Paid Leave Program, which provides paid time off for major life events such as bonding with a new child, recovering from a serious health condition, or caring for a family member. Employers must notify employees of their rights by December 1, 2025 through both a workplace posting and an individual written notice. The Paid Leave Notice must be displayed somewhere visible. Minnesota’s minimum wage will also rise at the start of the year to 11.41 per hour, with a training wage of 9.31 per hour. Both updates are included in the 2026 Minnesota Labor Law Posters.

Missouri

Missouri’s minimum wage will increase from $13.75 to $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2026. The tipped wage will increase from 6.875 to 7.50 per hour. The updated 2026 Missouri Minimum Wage Notice is now available.

Montana

Beginning January 1, 2026, Montana’s minimum wage will increase from $10.55 to $10.85 per hour to reflect cost-of-living adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index. The revised Minimum Wage Notice has already been issued.

Nevada

The 2026 Nevada Unemployment Insurance Notice has been updated to reflect Nevada’s new online system for filing unemployment claims and reporting fraud, including revised web links to ensure employees are directed to the correct resources. In addition, the Nevada AB 307 Notice, which outlines available employee training and workforce development programs, has been updated.

New Jersey

Effective January 1, 2026, New Jersey’s minimum wage will increase from $15.49 to $15.92 per hour. Minimum wage rates for seasonal and small employers, agricultural workers, tipped employees, and long-term care workers will also rise accordingly. These updated rates are now included in the revised New Jersey Wage & Hour Law Abstract. In addition, New Jersey has released the new Captive Audience Notice, which informs employees of their rights to decline employer-sponsored political or religious meetings.

New Mexico

The 2026 version of the Workers’ Compensation poster features a redesigned layout with simplified language for easier understanding. A new QR code has been added, allowing employees quick access to the official Workers’ Compensation website for additional resources. Additionally, the list of ombudsman office addresses has been removed, streamlining the notice and directing users to centralized contact options.

New York State

The 2026 New York Minimum Wage Notice reflects statewide wage increases effective January 1, 2026. The minimum wage for New York City and Long Island/Westchester County increases from $16.50 to $17.00 per hour, while the remainder of New York State increases from $15.50 to $16.00 per hour. Overtime rates are adjusted accordingly to reflect the higher minimum wages. The poster also updates the tipped worker minimum wage, which continues to require payment of the full minimum wage with no tip credit allowed. In addition, minor changes have been made to the Deductions from Wages, Tip Appropriations, Unemployment Ins., Child Labor, and Equal Pay notices. 

New York City

The New York City Commission on Human Rights has updated its Notice of Rights for 2026. Changes include extending the filing deadline for discrimination complaints from one year to three years from the date of the last alleged act and adding a new protected category of “criminal record” under the housing section. Also, the Sick & Safe Leave Notice will likely be revised with 32 hours of unpaid leave added immediately upon hire.

Ohio

Ohio’s updated Minimum Wage Poster reflects several changes effective January 1, 2026. The state minimum wage will increase from $10.70 to $11.00 per hour for non-tipped employees, and the tipped wage will rise from 5.35 to 5.50. The employer gross-receipts threshold required to pay state minimum wage will increase from 394,000 to 405,000.

Oregon

Oregon is expected to release an updated Paid Sick Leave Notice on January 1, 2026. The revision will allow employees to use paid leave for blood donations.

Pennsylvania

Beginning in January 2026, Pennsylvania employers with 50 or more full-time employees must display a new Veterans Benefits and Services Notice. This notice informs workers about available state and federal veterans’ programs and provides contact information for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, county offices, and the VA Crisis Line.

Rhode Island

Effective January 1, 2026, the Rhode Island Minimum Wage Notice has been updated to reflect statewide wage increases. The minimum wage increases from $15.00 to $16.00 per hour, with corresponding increases to the student wage from $12.60 to $13.50 and the minors wage for 14–15 year-old employees working limited hours from $10.50 to $11.25 per hour. The tipped employee cash wage remains unchanged.

South Dakota

South Dakota’s minimum wage will increase from $11.50 to $11.85 per hour beginning January 1, 2026. The tipped wage will rise from 5.75 to 5.93 per hour, maintaining the requirement that tipped employees receive 50 percent of the state minimum wage.

Virginia

Effective January 1, 2026 the Virginia Minimum Wage will increase from $12.41 to $12.77 per hour. This adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index, as required by law. Employers must ensure that tipped workers and small business employees also meet the updated wage threshold.

Washington

Effective January 1, 2026, Washington State’s Minimum Wage will increase from $16.66 to $17.13 per hour, with the youth minimum wage (ages 14–15) rising from $14.16 to $14.56 per hour. Additionally, the 2026 Paid Family and Medical Leave Notice updates weekly benefit amounts to a range of $100 to $1,647 based on prior earnings, clarifies eligibility requirements, and expands information on job protection and continuation of health care benefits, while adding required equal opportunity and accessibility disclosures.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s 2026 Unemployment Benefits Notice includes several updates. The instructions now require identity verification and multi-factor authentication before submitting a claim. References to mailed verification letters and the Trade Adjustment Assistance program have been removed. Eligibility language has been simplified and the notice now includes updated contact information and a QR code for convenient online access.