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Free Printable Federal Labor Law Posters (Official) – U.S. employers do not have to buy federal labor law posters. The official agencies that write the rules also publish free printable labor law posters federal businesses can download and post.
This page explains which federal workplace posters most employers need, where to get official PDFs at no cost, and how to display them so employees can actually read them. It also flags a common trap: paid “all-in-one” kits that reprint notices the government already gives away.
What federal labor law posters are?
Federal labor law posters are official workplace notices. They summarize employee rights under laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Occupational Safety and Health Act, equal employment opportunity laws, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA), and USERRA.
The notices must be posted in a conspicuous place where employees and job applicants can see them. That is usually a break room, time clock, kitchen, or other high-traffic area. Electronic posting can supplement a physical poster and may help remote staff, but it does not replace an on-site poster when you have a physical workplace.
Not every employer must post every notice. Coverage depends on the statute. Employee count, industry, and federal-contract status all matter. A five-person shop and a 200-person contractor will not have the same list.
Where to get official free printable posters?
Start with the government, not a marketplace listing.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) publishes free electronic copies of required notices and makes many of them available in languages other than English. Use the official DOL Workplace Posters page if you already know which posters you need.
If you are not sure which notices apply, use the free elaws FirstStep Poster Advisor. Answer a short set of questions about your business. The tool tells you which federal DOL posters to display and lets you download them. It covers federal DOL requirements only, not state posters.
You can also order printed copies from DOL at no charge. You do not need a vendor subscription to stay legally current on the federal set.
Core federal posters most workplaces need
These are the notices U.S. employers search for most often when looking for free printable labor law posters federal.
Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage) poster
Covered employers must post a notice explaining FLSA rules on minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping, and youth employment. Download it from the DOL posters hub or the Poster Advisor. Replace outdated versions if DOL has issued a newer official file.
OSHA “Job Safety and Health: It’s the Law” poster
Private-sector employers covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act must display OSHA’s workplace poster. OSHA provides it free and says you should not pay a third-party vendor for it. Reproductions must be at least 8.5 by 14 inches with 10-point type. Older official versions may still be valid; OSHA does not require you to replace a previous official poster solely because a newer design exists. Get the current files from the OSHA Job Safety and Health poster page. If your state runs an OSHA-approved state plan, check whether a state version is required instead.
EEOC “Know Your Rights” poster
Covered employers must post the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission notice describing federal laws that ban job discrimination. The current poster is titled “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.” It is free in English, Spanish, and several other languages. Place it where notices are customarily posted. Digital posting can help website visitors and remote workers, but it should supplement—not silently replace—a physical notice at a worksite. Download official files from the EEOC Know Your Rights poster page. Failure to post can trigger a civil penalty that is adjusted for inflation.
FMLA poster
Employers covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act must display the official FMLA poster even at locations with no currently eligible employees. Coverage is limited; many small employers are not covered and therefore are not required to post this notice. Confirm coverage before you print.
EPPA and USERRA notices
The Employee Polygraph Protection Act poster applies to most private employers. The USERRA notice covers reemployment rights for people who leave a job for military service. Both are available through DOL’s free poster pages.
Extra posters for some employers only
Federal contractors, agricultural employers, and employers using certain visa programs may need additional notices, such as Davis-Bacon, Service Contract Act, H-2A, H-2B, or MSPA posters. Do not print every optional notice “just in case.” Use the Poster Advisor and the contract documents you already have.
Free Printable Federal Labor Law Posters (Official)
How to print and post them correctly?
Print from the official PDF. Do not crop legal text to make a flyer look cleaner.
- Use a size the agency specifies. OSHA reproductions must be at least 8.5″ x 14″ with readable 10-point type. Some contractor notices have their own size rules.
- Post in a conspicuous, well-lit place employees pass during a normal workday.
- Keep posters unobstructed. A laminated board behind a soda machine does not count if no one can read it.
- Post at every covered worksite, including satellite offices.
- Add language versions when a large share of your workforce reads another language. OSHA encourages a Spanish poster when you have Spanish-speaking employees, even when a second language is not strictly required.
- Check revision dates on the official page when laws change. Do not rely on a commercial “2026 kit” date alone.
DOL does not publish one official six-in-one sheet that covers every employer. A third-party combo poster is acceptable only if it includes every notice you are required to post and meets size and content rules. Many employers are better off printing the official PDFs they actually need.
Federal posters are not the whole job
State labor departments require their own posters for minimum wage, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, child labor, and paid leave. Those rules differ by state and change more often than the federal set.
Find your state labor office through DOL’s state labor office contacts, then download that state’s free official notices. A workplace that posts only federal PDFs can still be out of compliance.
Watch for paid poster upsells
You will see ads for “free federal labor law posters” that lead to a checkout page, a laminated bundle, or a yearly update service. Those products can be convenient. They are not required.
Official posters from DOL, OSHA, and EEOC are free to download and print. If a site claims you must pay the government for the federal set, that claim is false. If a site reprints official text, confirm it matches the current government file before you post it.
Brief FAQ
Are official federal labor law posters really free?
Yes. DOL, OSHA, and EEOC provide free electronic copies. DOL also lets employers order printed copies at no charge.
Does every small business need every federal poster?
No. Requirements vary by law. FMLA, for example, does not cover every small employer. Use the Poster Advisor instead of guessing.
Can I post the notices only on our intranet?
Electronic posting helps remote employees and can supplement a physical poster. If you have a worksite, keep the required notices posted there as well.
Do I need a new poster every calendar year?
Not automatically. Replace a poster when the issuing agency updates the official notice or when your coverage changes. Check the revision date on the agency page.
What if I already bought an all-in-one poster?
You can keep using it if it contains the current required notices for your workplace and meets size rules. Still download the official files so you can verify the text.
Quick checklist
- Run the official Poster Advisor for your federal list.
- Download the matching PDFs from DOL, OSHA, and EEOC.
- Print at the required size and post where employees and applicants can read them.
- Add your state’s free official posters.
- Recheck the government pages after major law changes.
Official free printable federal labor law posters are already on government websites. Use those files, post them where people can see them, and add the state notices that apply to your location. That is the complete federal posting task—and it does not require a paid kit.