The Facts

• Labor law posters reflect the laws enacted in a state and the regulations of government agencies. Some of the regulations required by states to be posted relate to workers' compensation, minimum wage standards, child labor laws and safety regulations. The specific requirements are particular to each state and employers should consult state websites or other resources to ensure compliance with the law.
  
  

Function

• Labor law posters are intended both to inform employees of their rights under law and to satisfy the employer's legal obligation to post mandatory statutes. To be in compliance, notices must be posted in a conspicuous and accessible place, usually a break room, lunchroom, time clock or job site. Some laws are not required to be posted, but must be recommended to be communicated. Labor law posters perform this function and provide evidence of compliance.
  
  

Size

• Commercially produced posters vary in size, but common dimensions are 18 inches x 24 inches and 24 inches x 36 inches. Most labor law posters are printed in color and laminated for durability. Some are double-sided.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Almost all labor law posters are commercially produced. In most cases, there are no mandated sources or formats for posters, which makes homemade posters permissible. State websites usually list the relevant content and make it available for download. However, because the laws are written by various agencies and subject to change, the maker of the homemade labor law poster assumes all responsibility to determine which laws must be posted, whereas commercial posters are produced under the guidance of a team of legal professionals who closely monitor changes to federal or state labor laws.
  
  

Features

• Every state's poster requirements are distinct. Florida requires bilingual labor law posters because of its large Spanish-speaking population. California has very comprehensive posting requirements, whereas Texas' are very sparse. Commercially produced labor law posters usually include the state flag and seal for easy identification.
  
  

Evolution

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  The frequent changes required to labor law posters inspired the creation of posters consistent with sustainable practices. One company produces "green" posters on recycled paper using soy-based ink, which can themselves be recycled since they are not laminated. They also offer a paperless email service advising when relevant laws or codes have changed, requiring posters to be replaced.