POSTED OR BUSTED: The Truth About Labor Law Posters

laurencain423
Jul 26
6 min read

Let me guess...

You’ve got a laminated poster hanging somewhere near the microwave that nobody looks at. It’s sun-faded, probably dusty, and hasn’t been touched since the Bush administration. But hey—it’s posted, right?

Here’s the thing: that poster may be completely out of date—and that means you could be out of compliance without even realizing it. Some employers think posting labor law notices is a “set it and forget it” deal. It's not.

Let’s fix that.

Why Do You Even Need Labor Law Posters?

These aren’t “just for show.” The federal government and every single state require employers to post certain notices where employees can easily see them. These include things like:

Wage & hour rules
Workplace safety rights
Anti-discrimination laws
Unemployment & workers’ comp info
Sexual harassment policies
Smoking policies (in some states)

Failing to post the correct versions—or not posting them at all—can lead to fines, complaints, or claims that are harder to defend.

Posting Basics: What You Need to Know

Here’s a breakdown of what matters—and where employers get tripped up.

Who Has to Post Them?

Almost all employers. If you have at least one employee, you’re likely required to post federal and state labor law notices. Some industries (like construction or transportation) have extra poster rules.

Where Should Posters Go?

They must be displayed in a common area employees regularly use.
That might be:
- A breakroom (if everyone uses it)
- Near a timeclock or main entrance
- Inside a mailroom or hallway

Pro tip: The goal is visibility.

If employees don’t go in the breakroom,

put it near the door they actually use.

What if You Have Multiple Buildings?

You need to post in each physical location where employees report to work—not just at HQ.

If you’ve got two warehouses, post in both.
If there are floors with separate staff, treat them like separate sites.

What About Remote Workers?

This is where things get messy. If you’ve got employees who never come into the office, you can’t just skip posting altogether. You’ve got two options:

Mail them the posters
Or give them digital access through your intranet or a secure portal

But be careful: Posting online doesn’t replace physical posters for on-site workers.

Can I Just Email the Posters? Or Put Them in a Binder?

Nope.

Emailing or handing someone a binder isn’t considered “posted.”
The law says they must be visibly displayed and accessible during work hours.

You can supplement with email, but you can’t replace the posted requirement unless the worker is 100% remote.

How Often Do Posters Need to Be Replaced?

Only when they change—but that’s the problem.

Labor law posters are updated more often than you think. Here’s what you need to know:

Change Type	What It Means	Action Required
Mandatory Update	Legal change that affects employer/employee rights	You must replace the poster
Non-Mandatory Update	Cosmetic change, or minor formatting	Replacement is optional

You won’t always be notified. So it’s your job to check.

Common Poster Mistakes

Here’s what employers screw up most often:

❌ Using old posters

Posters must reflect the current year’s legal updates. If yours says 2021, it’s time to toss it.

❌ Skipping locations

If your employees report to a jobsite, even temporarily, you may need to post there too.

❌ Relying on third-party vendors

You can buy posters—but make sure they’re current and include federal + state notices. Free ones from government websites work just fine if you know what you’re doing.

Free vs. Purchased Posters

Source	Cost	Are They Compliant?	Notes
Government	Free	Yes	You print and post yourself
Vendors	Varies	Usually	Some include update alerts

Buying posters is not required—but some vendors do make life easier by bundling federal/state notices and alerting you when laws change.

Do Applicants Need to See Posters Too?

Yes. If you regularly interview candidates onsite, some laws require you to post:

EEO notices
FMLA rights
Disability accommodation information

If interviews are remote, include links in the applicant portal or email.

Do I Fill Out Parts of the Poster?

Sometimes.

Posters may have blank fields for contact info (like your workers’ comp carrier or HR contact).
Don’t skip those—incomplete posters aren’t compliant.

FAQ Wrap-Up

Can I shrink them down or photocopy them? Nope. Must be full-sized, legible, and readable.
Do I need to post if my state wage is higher than federal? Yes. You still post the federal wage poster, even if your state pays more.
Can I get fined? Absolutely. Fines vary by agency but can hit $100 to $35,000+ depending on violations and repeat offenses.

Quick Employer Checklist

✔ Federal + State posters are up-to-date

✔ Posters are in all locations where employees report

✔ Remote employees have electronic access

✔ Industry-specific posters are included (if applicable)

✔ Posters are full-size, filled in, and easy to read

✔ Applicants have access to required notices

✔ You've checked for updates at least once per year

Final Thought

Posters aren’t decoration—they’re part of your compliance armor. If an injured employee or disgruntled applicant files a complaint, you better believe the investigators will notice whether those posters are up-to-date or collecting cobwebs.

This isn’t about scaring you—it’s about doing the simple stuff right, so you’re not fighting bigger battles later.

Don't Know What Your State Requires?

Click your state below for information and resources.

ALABAMA Department of Labor Workers' Compensation Division

ALASKA Department of Labor & Workforce Development

ARIZONA Industrial Commission of Arizona

ARKANSAS Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission

CALIFORNIA Department of Industrial Relations Division of Workers' Compensation

COLORADO Department of Labor and Employment Division of Workers' Compensation

CONNECTICUT Workers' Compensation Commission

DELAWARE Department of Labor Division of Industrial Affairs Office of Workers' Compensation

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Department of Employment Services Labor Standards Bureau Office of Workers' Compensation

FLORIDA Department of Financial Services Division of Workers' Compensation

GEORGIA Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation

HAWAII Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Disability Compensation Division

IDAHO Industrial Commission

ILLINOIS Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission

INDIANA Workers' Compensation Board of Indiana

IOWA Iowa Workforce Development Division of Workers' Compensation

KANSAS Department of Labor Division of Workers' Compensation

KENTUCKY Kentucky Labor Cabinet Department of Workers' Claims

LOUISIANA Louisiana Workforce Commission Office of Workers' Compensation

MAINE Workers' Compensation Board

MARYLAND Workers' Compensation Commission

MASSACHUSETTS Department of Industrial Accidents Department

MICHIGAN Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Workers' Compensation

MINNESOTA Department of Labor and Industry Workers' Compensation Division

MISSISSIPPI Workers' Compensation Commission

MISSOURI Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Division of Workers' Compensation

MONTANA Department of Labor and Industry Employment Standards Division Workers' Compensation

NEBRASKA Workers' Compensation Court

NEVADA Department of Business & Industry Division of Industrial Relations

NEW HAMPSHIRE Workers' Compensation Division Department of Labor

NEW JERSEY Department of Labor and Workforce Development Division of Workers' Compensation

NEW MEXICO Workers' Compensation Administration

NEW YORK Workers' Compensation Board

NORTH CAROLINA Industrial Commission

NORTH DAKOTA Workforce Safety and Insurance

OHIO Bureau of Workers' Compensation

OKLAHOMA Workers' Compensation Court

OREGON Workers' Compensation Division

PENNSYLVANIA Bureau of Workers' Compensation Department of Labor and Industry

PUERTO RICO Industrial Commission

RHODE ISLAND Department of Labor & Training Division of Workers' Compensation

SOUTH CAROLINA Workers' Compensation Commission

SOUTH DAKOTA Department of Labor and Regulation Division of Labor & Management

TENNESSEE Department of Labor and Workforce Development Division of Workers' Compensation

TEXAS Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation

UTAH Labor Commission Division of Industrial Accidents

VERMONT Department of Labor Workers' Compensation Division

VIRGINIA Workers' Compensation Commission

VIRGIN ISLANDS Department of Labor Workers' Compensation Administration

WASHINGTON Department of Labor and Industries Insurance Services Division

WEST VIRGINIA Office of the Insurance Commission

WISCONSIN Department of Workforce Development Workers' Compensation Division

WYOMING Department of Workforce Services Workers' Compensation Division

Blog By: Chris Cain, CWCP | Host of Work Comp Chaos

ABOUT CHRIS

Current

Host of Work Comp Chaos | licensed in multiple states as both an insurance adjuster & agent
Vice President of The Southern Agency Insurance in charge of Operations and Claims
United Heartland Insurance Company Claims Advisory Council

Speaking Events

Altaworld Insurance Tech & Innovation Conference: Q&A Discussion: Claims
Stairbuilders & Manufacturers Association: Hidden Liabilities
Georgia Public School Board Workers' Compensation Association: How To Handle Work Comp Claims
Homebuilders of Atlanta: Claims and Warranties
Lunch & Learn: Various Uses of Life Insurance - Key Man, Tax-Free Benefits, Buy-Sell Agreements

Prior

State of Tennessee Telehealth Advisory Committee assisting in developing rules and statutes
Utilization Review Advisory Committee
Past President of the Tennessee State Claims Association
Served 15 years as President of the Chattanooga Claims Association

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