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Free Printable State & Federal Labor Law Posters – U.S. employers must display current labor law posters so workers can see their rights. You do not need to buy them. Official federal agencies and most state labor departments publish free printable state and federal labor law posters as PDFs.
This page explains which notices are commonly required, where to download official files, and how to post them correctly.
Why Labor Law Posters Are Required?
Federal and state laws require employers to post notices covering wages, safety, family leave, discrimination, and other workplace rights. The goal is simple: employees and applicants should be able to read the rules without asking for them.
Coverage is not one-size-fits-all. A small shop may need fewer posters than a federal contractor or a company with 50 or more employees. Posting the wrong version, an outdated PDF, or a poster that is too small can still create a compliance problem.
Get Free Federal Labor Law Posters
Start with the U.S. Department of Labor. DOL says employers may download and print required notices at no cost. You do not have to pay a vendor for official federal posters.
Download the official collection here:
U.S. Department of Labor Workplace Posters
That page is the main hub for Wage and Hour posters and links to other federal notices. Common federal posters include:
- FLSA / federal minimum wage — Employee rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act
- FMLA — Family and Medical Leave Act rights and responsibilities (generally employers with 50 or more employees)
- EPPA — Employee Polygraph Protection Act
- USERRA — Rights of employees who serve in the uniformed services
- OSHA — Job safety and health
- EEOC “Know Your Rights” — Workplace discrimination is illegal
Not every employer must display every poster. Federal contractor notices (such as Davis-Bacon or Service Contract Act posters) apply only when those contracts apply.
Use the official poster advisor
If you are unsure which federal DOL posters your business needs, use the free interactive tool:
elaws FirstStep Poster Advisor
Answer a short set of questions about your workplace. The advisor lists the federal DOL posters that apply and lets you download them. It covers federal DOL requirements only. It does not replace your state’s posting rules.
OSHA Job Safety Poster
Most private-sector employers must post OSHA’s “Job Safety and Health: It’s the Law” notice. OSHA provides it free and tells employers not to pay a third-party vendor for the official poster.
Get it here:
OSHA Job Safety and Health Workplace Poster
Print notes that matter:
- Reproductions must be at least 8.5 by 14 inches with 10-point type.
- English and Spanish files are available on the OSHA page.
- If you operate in a state with an OSHA-approved state plan, that state may require its own version instead of, or in addition to, the federal poster.
Federal agencies use a different federal-agency OSHA poster. Private contractors working at federal sites generally still use the standard private-sector OSHA poster.
EEOC “Know Your Rights” Poster
Covered employers must post the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission notice describing federal laws that prohibit job discrimination. The current official title is “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.” It replaced the older “EEO is the Law” poster.
Download the official poster here:
EEOC Know Your Rights Poster
Key points:
- Post it where applicants and employees can see it.
- English, Spanish, and additional language versions are available.
- EEOC provides PDFs for printing and versions for screen readers.
- Failure to post can trigger a civil penalty that is adjusted for inflation.
Electronic posting can help remote workers, but it usually supplements—not always replaces—a physical notice at a worksite.
Free Printable State Labor Law Posters
Federal posters are only half of the requirement in most states. States commonly require their own notices for:
- State minimum wage and overtime
- Unemployment insurance
- Workers’ compensation
- Child labor
- Paid sick leave or paid family leave
- Pregnancy accommodations
- Payday and wage-theft notices
- State OSHA or safety rules
- Human trafficking awareness (in some states)
Because each state writes its own rules, there is no single nationwide “all-states” official PDF. The reliable method is to download posters from your state labor agency.
Use DOL’s official directory to find the correct office:
State Labor Offices directory
From that list, open your state’s labor department, workforce commission, or industrial commission website and look for “required posters,” “workplace postings,” or “employer notices.” Those agency pages are the legitimate source for free printable state labor law posters.
If you have locations in more than one state, post the correct state set at each location. A California notice does not satisfy Texas, and a New York wage poster does not cover Florida.
Free Printable State & Federal Labor Law Posters
How to Print and Display Posters Correctly?
Follow these practical steps:
- Download only official files. Use .gov pages from DOL, OSHA, EEOC, and your state labor office.
- Check the revision date. Replace older FLSA, FMLA, EEO, or state wage posters when the agency issues a new version.
- Print large enough to read. OSHA specifies 8.5″ x 14″ and 10-point type for its poster. Other federal posters must be easily readable even when a exact size is not listed.
- Post in a conspicuous place. Break rooms, time-clock areas, hiring offices, and employee entrances are common. Hidden hallways and locked offices do not count.
- Cover every worksite. Each establishment generally needs its own set.
- Plan for remote and hybrid staff. Add the notices to an intranet, onboarding packet, or employee handbook site when workers rarely visit a physical office.
- Offer other languages when needed. Many official posters are available in Spanish and other languages. Post a translation if a large share of your workforce reads that language.
You may print posters in black and white if the official file remains readable. Laminating is optional. Buying a commercial “all-in-one” wall poster is also optional. Combined posters are acceptable only if every required notice is current, complete, and readable.
Free Official Posters vs. Paid Kits
Many companies sell laminated federal-and-state kits. Those products can be convenient, but they are not required.
DOL states that you may download and print posters yourself for free. OSHA also says its safety poster is free and that employers should not pay a vendor for it.
Paid kits become a problem when:
- The vendor uses an outdated EEO or minimum-wage notice
- State inserts are missing after a wage or leave-law change
- Fine print is too small to meet readability rules
- Marketing language implies government posters are only available for a fee
If you already bought a kit, compare it against the current official PDFs at least once a year and after major law changes.
Quick Federal Poster Checklist
Use this as a starting point, then confirm coverage with the Poster Advisor and your state office:
- [ ] FLSA federal minimum wage poster
- [ ] OSHA job safety and health poster (or your state-plan version)
- [ ] EEOC Know Your Rights poster
- [ ] FMLA poster, if you are a covered employer
- [ ] EPPA polygraph poster
- [ ] USERRA notice
- [ ] Any contractor, agriculture, or special-industry posters that apply
- [ ] All current posters required by your state labor agency
Frequently Asked Questions
Are official labor law posters really free?
Yes. Federal agencies provide free electronic copies. Most state labor departments do the same. You pay only if you choose paper, ink, lamination, or a commercial kit.
Can I use a poster I found on a blog or HR template site?
Only if the text matches the current official version and meets size and readability rules. The safest option is the agency PDF.
Do I need new posters every year?
Not automatically. Replace a poster when the issuing agency revises it, when the minimum wage or leave law changes, or when your business becomes covered by a new statute.
What if I have no physical office?
Post notices where you hire and manage people. For fully remote teams, provide the full official text electronically and keep records showing employees received it. Follow any extra state rules for electronic posting.
Are there penalties for missing posters?
Yes, in some cases. EEOC can assess a penalty for failing to post the Know Your Rights notice. OSHA can cite employers who fail to display the safety poster. State agencies may also fine employers for missing wage, unemployment, or workers’ compensation notices.
Stay Current
Labor posting rules change when Congress, federal agencies, or state legislatures update wage, leave, or discrimination laws. Bookmark the five official pages below and review them after January 1 and after any state minimum-wage increase:
- DOL Workplace Posters
- elaws FirstStep Poster Advisor
- OSHA Workplace Poster
- EEOC Know Your Rights Poster
- State Labor Offices
Official free printable state and federal labor law posters are already published by the government. Download the current files, print them at a readable size, and post them where employees will actually see them.