What Notices are Employers Required to Display?

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As an employer, you’re required to post specific notices in areas where your employees and job applicants can easily view them. Keep reading to learn more about standard posters employers are required to display.

1. Employee Polygraph Protection Act

The Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) prevents most companies from using lie detector tests for pre-screening applicants or during employment. You cannot require nor request that any applicant or worker takes a lie detector test. You also cannot fire or discipline an employee for refusing to take one.

Under the EPPA, most employers are required to post a notice explaining the act.

2. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It prohibits you from discriminating against employees and applicants based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, or genetic information.

If you have 15 or more employees, you will generally have to display the “Equal Opportunity is the Law” poster in a prominent and easy to view location in your business.

3. E-Verify

If you use E-Verify to determine if your employees are eligible to work in the United States, you must display an E-Verify participation poster and a “Right to Work” poster in both Spanish and English. Read also: What is E-Verify? Do I Have to Use It?

4. Fair Labor Standards Act

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes a minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth standards affecting full-time and part-time employees.

You’re required to pay your employees at least the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and must display the “Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act” poster.

If you employ workers with disabilities and have received a certificate from the Wage & Hour Division (WHD) to pay your employees below minimum wage, you must also display “Employee Rights for Workers with Disabilities/Special Minimum Wage” poster.

5. Family & Medical Leave Act

If you had 50 or more employees for at least 20 weeks last year, you’re covered under the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Under FMLA, workers can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for the following reasons:

  • the birth of a child or the placement of a child for adoption or foster care
  • to bond with a child, within one year of the birth or placement of the child;
  • to care for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition;
  • a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform their job; or
  • qualifying emergencies related to the foreign deployment of a military member who is a spouse, child, or parent of the employee.

If you have at least 50 employees, you must post a notice explaining their rights under the FMLA.

6. Occupational Safety & Health Act

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) guarantees safe and healthful working conditions for employees.

OSHA requires you to display the “Job Safety and Health: It’s the Law” poster to inform your employees of their rights.

7. Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act

The Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects military members’ employment and reemployment rights when returning from a period of service. The protections under the USERRA prevent employers from discriminating based on military service, including members of the Reserves or National Guard.

You’re required to provide service members protected by the USERRA a notice of their rights and benefits. You can do this by displaying the USERRA notice where all employees can see it or by emailing or mailing it to each protected worker.

Other Notices

You may have to display other federal notices, depending on your industry and the number of workers you have. If you want to know which posters you’re required to display, you can use the Department of Labor’s “FirstStep Poster Advisor” to find out.

Your state’s labor department may have additional posters, which will inform your employees of their state’s rights. They may include information about state minimum wage, unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation, and sick leave. Learn more about state posters.

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