What you need and where to get it – Free
On these pages are links (on the left) to the required workplace posters and a brief explanation to help you decide if you need to display the poster. If you have any questions about posting requirements please let me know and I will be happy to explain specific details with you.
NOTE: The penalties for non-compliance with the posting requirements can be quite high, and it’s essentially free (other than your time) for you to bring your organization into compliance by following the links on these pages. Use the links on the left to guide you to the forms and posters.
Most employers know that there are specific requirements about displaying legally required posters in the workplace. The challenge can be knowing exactly which posters you are required to display, as the requirement can depend on how many employees you have, the industry you are in, whether or not you have federal contracts, and whether it’s a state or federal requirement, or both.
A greater challenge can arise when you decide you want to make sure you are complying with the posting regulations. Several options are available to help you comply, which are discussed below:
1. Contact the agency that created the posting requirement. Each agency with a posting requirement that affects most or all employers usually offers the poster free of charge, but you need to know which agency is responsible. Some are obvious, like OSHA. Others can be a bit tougher to figure out, like getting a No-Smoking sign to comply with the Oregon Smoke Free Workplace Act (available from the Oregon Department of Health Services.) Some companies have unique posting requirements such as a Laser Safety Placard, Asbestos Warning or Chemical Hazards. These posters can be obtained from an outside vendor.
2. Buy an all-in-one poster. This is one of the easiest ways to comply with the posting requirements, but you must make sure that the company you purchase your poster from includes specific state posting requirements in addition to the federal requirements. Prices for these posters typically range from $10 to $100 or more, depending on framing, lamination, and additional features. Depending on the size of your company, with an all-in-one poster you may be meeting posting requirements for laws you don’t even have to comply with! Beware of misleading advertising stating that employers are required to buy compliance posters. This is not true. You can buy posters from these vendors, or any other vendors, but you are not required to do so.
3. Contact your state’s wage and hour division. In Oregon this is BOLI. In fact, BOLI has created what they call an 8 in 1 poster that includes the state and federal posters that mostOregon employers must display. This one poster satisfies most of the posting requirements for Oregon employers with 15 or more employees. The 2×3 poster can be ordered directly from the BOLI website for $10. The link is provided later in this Update. For other states please contact me.
Some employers have specific posting requirements that only apply to their industries or situations. Employers involved in agriculture and harvesting, and certain employers with government contracts valued over a certain monetary limit, for example, have special posting requirements.
