Updating Labor Law Posters and Its Necessity

To protect the rights of workers, more and more regulations are being set in place these days. One of the regulations is related to labor law posters. According to this regulation, the work place should have posters containing information about rights and benefits of workers posted in visible locations.

The updated labor law posters should have following points written on them.

One of the laws is about harassment and discrimination issues in workplace. Another important law is about the insurance benefits after losing the job or getting retired. The labor law posters should also contain information about safety measures and health protection of the workers in workplace. It is really important to have such posters in such workplace where labor has to work in potentially harmful environment. Along with all this, the updated labor law posters should also contain information about the minimum wages and bonuses that the company offers during holidays. It must be noted here that the information written on posters is not same for all organizations. The poster information will completely depend on the type of work that has been carried out in a particular workplace.

The most important thing is to make sure that workers clearly understand the labor law posters. Due to said reason, employers should know about nationality of workers so posters in their native languages can also be posted in the workplace. This will help workers get a clear understanding about what is written on updated labor law posters. Employers should ensure that the posters are shown in all those areas that are frequently visited by workers, e.g. entrance of the work place, rest rooms and cafeteria etc.

There are frequent changes and updates in laws so it is highly recommended to replace old posters with updated labor law posters every 3 or 6 months. This will ensure that the posters contain latest information about rights of workers issued by Government authorities. The updated information can be easily found on government website or any other website that covers legal issues related to the industry in question. In many cases, copies of latest labor laws and notification of changes are sent directly to the employers. Hence, it is really important to make updated labor law posters visible in workplace to ensure safety and rights of workers. An industry without basic rights of workers can never survive and that is why, being an employer it is your responsibility to educate your workers about their rights and benefits they are entitled to.

Labor laws 101: Correct way of posting notices for employees’ protection

Companies post information on employees’ bulletin boards often. Employees don’t really pay attention to them so much though. Either they briefly read them or simply walk pass them. Reality is they should read these notices from time to time regarding important labor laws.

Most of these labor laws postings are overlooked but they are apparently mandated for obvious display by the federal and state governments. They require their contact numbers, content and details printed on the posters so employees can contact them directly if there are any concerns or complaints. These pinpoint basically the protection of the employees working in different companies.

Labor Laws 101

There are several state and federal laws that states several requirements and prohibitions on companies. Employers are responsible to post various government labor laws notices in the workplace. There are several companies who neglect to do so. The bulletin boards posts information regarding employees’ rights under labor laws. They provide information on how to report any incidents related to discrimination, issues with wage and other hour violations that infringe the rights of the employees to the government.

These posters state information for employees on how to bring legal action against companies. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires all employers to post federal minimum wage poster in an area usually visited by employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA regulations distinctively oblige employers and business owners to post a federal safety and health poster in the workplace.

Take note that there are several penalties if companies fail to comply with government labor laws. Fines may range from $110 to $10,000. Companies who don't post these required notices or post old notices could be punished with a fine up to $17,000.

Steps to follow for proper posting

·         Contact a private company who specializes in labor law posters. These firms will do the research for the company. They will collect all required notices. They usually charge around $30 or more for posters but most businesses are willing to pay this amount to research that takes a lot of time.

·         Post on visible locations of the office where all employees can read the notices all the time such as where employees time in or in their lunch areas. Also building lobbies or applicant areas are good options.

·     Always be updated with postings. Usually, agencies revised these types of posters often and states if the law changes, minimum wage increases, new court decisions and if there are some new procedural requirements. 

·         Since the government has no obligation to notify them once they issue an updated version, stay updated by frequently checking government websites or contact agencies directly to inquire regarding new postings.

·         Take note that these posters cannot be changed, stolen or even defaced. It is better to laminate them or put them in glass cases to avoid the following.

Getting New Labor Law Posters is Easy

They say that there are two things that are certain in life: death and taxes.  When it comes to the federal and state governments, there is another thing that is certain: the rules and laws are going to change.  We elect politicians and pay them to constantly evaluate the way things are working and, when it is needed, change the way that things are done.  If you are the owner of a small business this can create a problem for you.  Businesses have to operate under a wide ranging set of rules and regulations.  If they have employees, there are certain rights and regulations that the employers and the employees need to be aware of.  Because of this, it is required that businesses have the federal and state labor laws posted somewhere in their place of business that is conspicuous and available for all employees to read.

It is not enough to put up a poster and then forget about it.  It may be that you can find a poster that looks good and is durable so that it could last for many years before it has to be replaced, but there is a problem with that.  The government is going to change the rules from time to time.  That means that on a yearly basis, you will need to get new labor law posters to replace the outdated ones that are already hanging in your business.  There will be some business owners who will complain about having to do this and that will think it is just another thing the government is doing to make their life more difficult.  These owners that are complaining need to step back, check out the Internet, and stop complaining.  It is actually very easy to make sure that your business is always complying with the law.

There are plenty of internet sites that offer the posters for sale.  All a business owner has to do is input the state where their business is located and they will be able to get a poster that contains the updated rules and regulations for both the state and federal government.  If they take it a step further, they can find a site that will automatically ship them a new poster every year so the business will always have the right poster to display.  It is not difficult to do this and there is no reason for a business owner not to take advantage of the businesses that offer this service for them.

Labor Law Posters Teach People About Their Rights

Most of us are aware of the difference between an employer and an employee. The employee is an individual who is paid by the employer to do a certain job. In order for a business to be successful, you need to have both of these groups working together towards a common goal. There are some people who think that the employers have all of the power. They have the right to hire and fire the employees if that is what they choose to do. Some people are under the assumption that the employer is the one that decides how much an employee is paid and what other rights they are given. This is not the way that it works in the United States. There are labor laws that have been established by the federal government and each state has their own set of rules and regulations about how employers and employees can act.

In every workplace there are supposed to be labor law posters that have been placed in spots where all employees can see them. These posters outline the federal standards for employers and employees. These standards include:

• The Minimum Wage – this is the lowest amount that an individual can be paid who is working in a non-agricultural business as an hourly employee.

• Equal Employment Opportunity Law – this means that an employer cannot discriminate when they hire employees.

• Job Safety and Health Protection – employers have to provide a safe workplace and environment for their employees.

• Family Medical Leave – allow employees to take unpaid time off without losing their job for medical issues.

All of these rules and several others must be followed or the employer is subject to fines and other penalties.

States can set rules that offer even more rights to employees and employers. They can set their own minimum wage that exceeds the amount set by the federal government. They can specify that employees should be given paid time off for voting. They can specify the rules for claiming unemployment benefits. Each state is able to add their own regulations and can also fine employers that break the laws.

The posters that are placed in the business are designed to make employees aware of what their rights are in the workplace. There are a lot of employees who have misconceptions about what their employers can do and what the employees are allowed to do. It is worth taking the time to understand these rights whether you are an employer or an employee.