Labor law posters are the notices federal and state laws require employers to display where staff can see them. Most small businesses need at least the Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage poster and the OSHA Job Safety and Health poster, and the U.S. Department of Labor gives every federal poster away free to download and print.
A lot of businesses pay for laminated all-in-one poster packs they don't need. This guide sets out which federal posters apply to whom, which ones carry penalties and how to handle staff who never visit an office. It uses the U.S. Department of Labor's workplace posters page and its posters FAQ, both read in October 2026.
The main federal posters and who must display them
| Poster | Who must post it | Penalty for not posting |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage) | Every private, federal, state and local government employer with any employee subject to the FLSA | No citations or penalties for failure to post |
| Job Safety and Health: It's the Law (OSHA) | Private employers in a business affecting commerce | Citation and penalty possible |
| Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) | Public agencies, schools and private employers with 50 or more employees in 20 or more workweeks | Civil penalty for wilful refusal |
| Employee Polygraph Protection Act | Most employers engaged in or affecting commerce | Court action and civil penalties possible |
| Your Rights Under USERRA | Every employer, to people entitled to USERRA rights | No penalty, but employees can ask DOL to investigate |
The FMLA line is the one small firms often get wrong in the other direction. The posters page says some small businesses aren't covered by the FMLA and so don't have to display that notice. My FMLA guide explains the 50-employee test.
You never need to buy a poster pack
This is the point most owners miss. The Department of Labor's FAQ says federal posters can be downloaded and printed free of charge, and that it doesn't supply six-in-one combination posters because different employers have different notice needs. You can use a combination poster if it contains every notice you need and each one meets the size rules, but you don't have to pay for one.
Only two federal posters have a set size. The OSHA poster must be at least 8 1/2 by 14 inches with 10-point type if you print your own copy, and the Executive Order 13496 poster for federal contractors must be 11 by 17 inches. Every other federal poster just has to be easy to read.
How to work out which posters you need
- Count your employees, including part-time staff. Under some federal laws, contract workers can count as employees too, so the FAQ says to include them if you're likely to be a joint employer.
- Use the Department of Labor's elaws Poster Advisor, which asks about your business and lists the federal posters that apply.
- Download and print each poster from the DOL site, in the languages your staff read where versions exist.
- Check your state labor department for state posters. The DOL page is clear that the Poster Advisor covers federal rules only.
- Put the posters where staff will see them, such as a break room or near the time clock.
Answers to the awkward cases
- No employees: the FAQ says a business owner with no employees and no contract workers doesn't have to post federal posters.
- Only volunteers: you're exempt only if every worker qualifies as a bona fide volunteer under the FLSA, meaning they give their time for public service, religious or humanitarian aims without expecting pay.
- Churches and nonprofits: if there's at least one paid employee, some posters apply. Nonprofit status makes no difference to posting duties.
- Commission-only pay: you still post the FLSA poster. How someone is paid doesn't change it.
- A higher state wage: you still display the federal FLSA poster, because it also covers federal child labor and overtime rules.
Remote staff and online hiring
The Department of Labor's FAQ admits most of its poster rules were written before online job ads. For FMLA, EEO and polygraph notices where applicants never come in, it suggests a prominent notice on the website where you list jobs, telling applicants where to find the posters. For USERRA, the posters page says you can provide the notice in ways other than posting, such as by email or in a handbook, as long as it reaches the people entitled to it.
If your whole team works from home, put the federal notices in your onboarding pack and on your staff intranet as well, so everyone can find them in one place.
State posters sit on top
Every state has its own notices, usually on its minimum wage, unemployment insurance and workers' compensation. Those come from the state labor department, not from the federal site. If you're in Texas or Florida, my Texas minimum wage page and other state pages explain the wage rules your state poster will show.
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My verdict
Don't pay for a poster pack. Run the free Poster Advisor, print what it lists, add your state's notices and put them where people take their breaks. The posters that carry real penalties are OSHA and, for bigger employers, FMLA, so check those first. And if your staff are remote, a clear notice in your hiring pages and onboarding pack does the job the wall would do.
Frequently asked questions
Are labor law posters required for small businesses?
Yes, if you have employees. Most small employers need at least the FLSA minimum wage poster and the OSHA poster, plus any state posters.
Where can I get labor law posters for free?
The U.S. Department of Labor lets you download and print every federal poster free from its workplace posters page and the elaws Poster Advisor.
Is there a fine for not displaying the FLSA poster?
The Department of Labor's posters page lists no citations or penalties for failing to post the FLSA poster, but OSHA and FMLA posters can carry penalties.
Do I need posters with no employees?
No. The Department of Labor says an owner with no employees and no contract workers doesn't have to post federal posters until they start hiring.
Can I use an all-in-one labor law poster?
Yes, if it includes every notice you need and each one meets the size rules, but the Department of Labor doesn't supply them and you don't have to buy one.
