Employment Posters

Washington employers are legally required to display three free Labor & Industries posters in their workplace to inform employees of their rights and responsibilities. Employers are also required to display three free posters from the state’s Employment Security Department (ESD). The state also recommends displaying the Human Rights Commission’s poster on the Washington Law Against Discrimination.

These free posters are:

• Notice to Employees (either the poster for employers who are part of the State Fund for workers’ compensation or the poster for self-insured employers.) (L&I)
• Job Safety and Health Law (L&I)
• Your Rights as a Worker (L&I)
• Unemployment Benefits (EDS)
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (EDS)
• Domestic Violence Resources (EDS)
• Washington State Law Prohibits Discrimination in Employment (WSHRC- recommended)

Posters are available to download on the federal, state, and local agency websites and can be order online. You can also search “Labor Posters” on the Washington Hospitality Association website.

Each poster is in English and Spanish —other alternative-language versions are available as well. Posters do not need to be ordered every year. Confirm your L&I poster is valid by comparing the date indicated at the bottom of the poster – just right of the publication number – with the valid date published at lni.wa.gov/forms-publications/required- workplace-posters.

Federal labor posters

Most businesses are also required to post additional U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in the workplace. Although all Washington employers are required to display the federal minimum wage poster, they are required to pay the higher Washington minimum wage.

These additional posters are:

• Fair Labor Standards Act
• Federal Minimum Wage Poster
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act
• Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
• Your Rights Under USERRA — The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

To determine which specific federal posters your business is required to post and to access free federal posters, visit the DOL elaws Poster Advisor at webapps.dol.gov/elaws/posters.html.

Local labor posters

Some local jurisdictions require additional posters. Seattle, for example, has a labor rights poster and also requires hotels to display its Notice of Rights for Hotel Employee poster and its Notice of Rights for Employees of Ancillary Hotel Businesses posters.

Both are updated annually. SeaTac has a minimum wage poster for hospitality businesses. Check with your local government offices to verify any additional local poster requirements.

Tips

Be on the lookout for labor poster scams. Many businesses, especially newly licensed organizations, are targeted by unscrupulous companies using deceptive marketing practices. They send official-looking notices that suggest you will be fined by the government if you don’t purchase their labor posters. Labor posters required by the government are always available for free from the issuing federal, state and local agencies.

The Washington Hospitality Association publishes an annual labor poster that combines current federal and state employment notices into one convenient poster. Posters are $40 and members receive one complimentary poster per billable account each year. Display posters where they can easily be seen and read by employees. Keep them in good condition.

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