Federal Labor Law Posting Requirements

Federal Labor Law Posters: Requirements for Employers

Federal labor law posters inform employees and job applicants about important workplace rights and employer responsibilities. These notices address subjects such as minimum wage, overtime, workplace safety, equal employment opportunity, family and medical leave, military service protections, and employee polygraph testing.

Many employers are required to display certain federal workplace notices. However, not every federal labor law poster is required for every business. Posting obligations depend on the applicable law, employer coverage, workforce size, industry, and other circumstances.

Labor Law Compliance Center provides State and Federal Combination Labor Law Posters to help employers organize applicable workplace notices.

What Are Federal Labor Law Posters?

Federal labor law posters are notices required under certain federal employment laws and regulations. They communicate employee rights and provide information about workplace protections and enforcement agencies.

Depending on the employer, required federal notices may include:

• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Employee Rights Poster
• Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Notice
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Know Your Rights Poster
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) General Notice
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Poster

Additional federal notices may apply to certain government contractors, industries, and employment arrangements.

1. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Minimum Wage Poster

The Fair Labor Standards Act establishes federal requirements involving minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment.

Covered employers generally must display the official Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act poster in a conspicuous location where employees can readily see it.

The notice provides information about federal minimum wage requirements, overtime compensation, child labor protections, and employee rights under the FLSA.

Employers should review applicable state and local wage laws because those jurisdictions may establish higher minimum wage requirements.

2. Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act protects qualifying employees and applicants from employment discrimination based on military service or obligations.

USERRA also establishes certain reemployment rights for individuals returning from qualifying uniformed service.

Employers must provide employees with notice of their USERRA rights, benefits, and obligations. Displaying the official USERRA notice is one permitted method of satisfying this requirement.

Employers should distinguish the underlying obligation to provide notice from laws that specifically require a physical workplace poster.

3. Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster

The Employee Polygraph Protection Act generally prohibits most private employers from requiring or requesting lie detector tests for employment screening or during employment.

The law includes limited exceptions for certain employers and circumstances.

Employers subject to the EPPA must display the official Employee Polygraph Protection Act notice in a prominent and conspicuous location where employees and applicants can readily observe it.

4. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Know Your Rights Poster

Federal equal employment opportunity laws prohibit certain forms of employment discrimination based on protected characteristics.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission provides the official Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination Is Illegal poster for covered employers.

The notice addresses protections involving race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, and other protections established by applicable federal law.

Covered employers must display the applicable notice in conspicuous locations accessible to employees and applicants.

The Know Your Rights poster replaced the older EEO Is the Law poster and supplement in 2022.

Employers should consult the EEOC official poster page for the current applicable version and instructions.

5. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster

The Family and Medical Leave Act provides eligible employees of covered employers with job-protected leave for certain qualifying family and medical reasons.

Depending on eligibility and circumstances, qualifying reasons may include:

• The birth of a child and care for the newborn.
• Placement of a child for adoption or foster care.
• Care for a qualifying family member with a serious health condition.
• An employee's own serious health condition.
• Certain qualifying military family circumstances.
• Military caregiver leave under applicable provisions.

Covered employers must display the FMLA general notice in a conspicuous location where employees and applicants can readily see it.

The current FMLA general notice addresses military family leave provisions. Employers should not rely on obsolete temporary supplements from earlier versions of the law.

6. OSHA Job Safety and Health: It's the Law Poster

The Occupational Safety and Health Act establishes workplace safety and health requirements for covered employers.

The official OSHA Job Safety and Health: It's the Law poster explains employee rights and employer responsibilities involving workplace hazards, safety training, inspections, and protections against retaliation.

Employers covered by federal OSHA posting requirements generally must display the official notice in a conspicuous workplace location.

Some states operate OSHA-approved State Plans with additional or different posting requirements. Employers should determine which occupational safety and health program applies to their operations.

For official information, visit the OSHA Job Safety and Health Poster page.

Are All Six Federal Labor Law Notices Required for Every Business?

No. Federal posting requirements vary according to the law and the employer's circumstances.

Some notices apply broadly to covered private-sector employers, while others depend on workforce size, government contract coverage, industry, or other factors.

Employers should evaluate each notice individually and determine whether it applies to their workplace.

Where Must Federal Labor Law Posters Be Displayed?

Many federal workplace posting laws require notices to be displayed conspicuously in locations where employees can readily see them.

Some notices must also be accessible to job applicants.

Appropriate locations may include employee break rooms, workplace notice boards, common areas, or other locations meeting the applicable posting requirements.

Employers with multiple facilities should evaluate the requirements applicable to each establishment.

Can Federal Labor Law Posters Be Displayed Electronically?

Electronic posting may be permitted under certain circumstances, depending on the applicable notice and agency requirements.

However, electronic access does not automatically replace every physical workplace posting obligation.

Employers with remote, hybrid, or mobile employees should review the requirements for each notice and determine whether physical posting, electronic posting, or both are necessary.

Labor Law Compliance Center offers an eViewer Digital Labor Law Poster Subscription to help employers provide electronic access to workplace notices.

Do Employers Also Need State and Local Labor Law Posters?

Federal workplace notices are only one component of labor law posting compliance.

States and local governments may establish additional requirements involving minimum wage, paid leave, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, discrimination protections, and other employment matters.

Employers should review the requirements applicable to each location where they operate.

Browse our State and Federal Combination Labor Law Posters for available workplace posting products.

How Often Must Federal Labor Law Posters Be Updated?

Federal labor law posters do not necessarily need to be replaced every year.

Updates depend on changes to applicable laws, regulations, and official agency notices.

Employers should periodically review their workplace posters and replace outdated notices when required.

Labor Law Compliance Center offers a Poster Replacement Plan to help participating employers manage qualifying workplace poster updates.

Frequently Asked Questions About Federal Labor Law Posters

Are federal labor law posters mandatory?

Many employers must display certain federal workplace notices. The specific requirements depend on employer coverage and applicable laws.

Can employers obtain federal labor law posters for free?

Yes. Official federal workplace notices are generally available without charge from the responsible government agencies. Employers may also purchase commercially printed combination posters for convenience.

Do small businesses need federal labor law posters?

Small businesses may be subject to federal posting requirements, even with relatively few employees. Coverage varies by law.

Is the FMLA poster required for every employer?

No. The FMLA general notice requirement applies to covered employers. Employee eligibility for leave is a separate consideration.

Does every employer need an EEO poster?

Not necessarily. Employers should review the coverage requirements established by the applicable federal equal employment opportunity laws.

Do employers need to purchase a new federal poster every year?

No. Posters generally need to be updated when applicable posting requirements or official notices change, rather than simply because a new calendar year begins.

Federal Labor Law Poster Compliance Resources

Labor Law Compliance Center has provided workplace posting products and compliance resources to employers since 2005.

Explore our State and Federal Combination Labor Law Posters, review our Labor Law Poster Frequently Asked Questions, or visit the Labor Law Compliance Center homepage for additional workplace posting solutions.

Compliance note: This article provides general educational information about federal workplace posting requirements. Employers should consult current official agency guidance and applicable laws to determine their specific obligations.