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Free Printable Federal Labor Law Posters | Official – U.S. employers do not have to buy federal labor law posters. Official agencies publish free printable versions you can download and post at work.
This page explains which federal workplace posters apply, where to get the current free files, and how to display them so employees can actually read them.
What Federal Labor Law Posters Are?
Federal labor law posters are official notices that tell workers about rights under U.S. employment laws. Topics typically include minimum wage and overtime, job safety, family and medical leave, discrimination, military service reemployment, and limits on lie detector tests.
You must post the notices that apply to your workplace in a conspicuous place where employees and applicants can see them. Coverage is not one-size-fits-all. A small shop, a school, a farm, and a federal contractor can have different requirements.
You Can Get Them Free From the Government
The U.S. Department of Labor states that you may download and print required DOL posters at no cost. You do not need a paid “all-in-one” kit to meet federal posting rules.
Start here:
- Download official DOL posters from the U.S. Department of Labor Workplace Posters page.
- Use the elaws FirstStep Poster Advisor if you are not sure which federal DOL posters your business must display.
Both tools are free. Many posters are also available in Spanish and other languages.
Federal Posters Most U.S. Employers Need
Not every employer must post every notice. These are the federal posters that come up most often.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) minimum wage poster. Covered employers must post a notice explaining federal minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping, and youth employment rules. The current federal minimum wage remains $7.25 an hour. If a state or local rate is higher, workers are entitled to the higher rate. Get the official FLSA poster from the DOL Workplace Posters page linked above.
OSHA “Job Safety and Health: It’s the Law” poster. Most private-sector employers must post OSHA’s workplace safety notice. OSHA provides it free and says you should not pay a vendor for this poster. Download it from the official OSHA workplace poster page. Reproductions must be at least 8.5 by 14 inches with 10-point type. If your state runs an OSHA-approved state plan, you may need that state’s version instead.
EEOC “Know Your Rights” poster. Covered employers must post the EEOC notice on workplace discrimination laws, including race, color, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or transgender status), national origin, religion, age 40 and older, equal pay, disability, genetic information, and retaliation. Get the free printable from the EEOC Know Your Rights poster page. EEOC does not mail printed copies; download the PDF and print it.
Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) poster. Most private employers must post this notice about limits on lie detector tests. It is available on the DOL posters page.
USERRA poster (“Your Rights Under USERRA”). This notice covers reemployment rights for people who leave a job for military service. It applies to virtually all employers and is listed on the DOL posters page.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) poster. Private employers generally must post this if they had 50 or more employees for 20 or more workweeks in the current or prior year. Public agencies and public or private elementary and secondary schools must post it regardless of size. Post it even if no current employee is eligible for leave.
Posters That Apply Only to Some Employers
Download these only if the law actually covers your workplace:
- Federal contractors and subcontractors may need Davis-Bacon, Service Contract Act, paid sick leave for federal contractors, or other contractor notices.
- Agricultural employers may need MSPA or H-2A notices.
- Employers of H-2B workers need the H-2B employee-rights poster.
- Employers using FLSA Section 14(c) special minimum wages need that specific notice.
Contractor posting rules can change. DOL has posted updates after recent executive orders affecting some contractor wage requirements. Always use the current file on the official DOL posters page rather than an old packet you bought years ago.
How to Print and Display Free Federal Posters?
- Confirm which notices apply with the Poster Advisor.
- Download the current PDF from the official agency site.
- Print in a size that is easy to read. OSHA’s poster has a minimum size. Other posters must still be clearly readable.
- Post them where employees naturally look: a break room, time clock, job-site trailer, or hiring office.
- Keep them unobstructed. Do not hide them behind a door, inside a binder, or in a manager-only office.
- Replace a poster when the agency issues a revised version that is required for compliance.
A commercial “6-in-1” or laminated combo poster can be used if it includes every notice you are required to post and meets size and readability rules. DOL does not publish a single official combo poster because different employers have different obligations.
Electronic posting is not a full substitute in most cases. Some laws allow a digital copy in limited situations, such as when employees work only remotely and never come on site. If you have a physical workplace, plan on printed posters.
Don’t Forget State Labor Law Posters
Federal posters are only part of the requirement. Most states, and some cities and counties, require additional notices for state minimum wage, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, paid leave, or other state laws.
DOL does not issue those state files. Use the DOL directory of state labor offices to reach your state agency and download that state’s free official posters.
Free Printable Federal Labor Law Posters | Official
Avoid Paid “Free Poster” Traps
Watch for these problems:
- Vendors that imply you must buy official posters. Federal agencies provide free electronic copies.
- Outdated PDFs, including old “EEO is the Law” versions that the current EEOC “Know Your Rights” poster replaced.
- Expired COVID-era paid-leave notices that are no longer a current federal posting duty for most employers.
- Combo posters that omit a notice your workplace actually needs, or shrink text below readability rules.
If a site asks for payment before you can download a federal poster, leave and use the official .gov pages linked above.
Quick Compliance Checklist
- Identify every worksite, including job sites and hiring locations.
- Run the federal Poster Advisor for each type of operation.
- Download current FLSA, OSHA, EEOC, EPPA, USERRA, and (if covered) FMLA files.
- Add contractor, farm, or visa posters only if they apply.
- Add required state and local posters.
- Print, post, and check the official pages after major law changes.
FAQ
Do I have to pay for federal labor law posters?
No. DOL, OSHA, and EEOC provide free printable versions. You may pay a printer or buy a laminated combo if you want, but payment is not required by federal law.
Does a one-person business need posters?
If you have even one employee covered by a posting law, that notice generally must be displayed. Some laws, such as FMLA, have a higher headcount threshold.
Are last year’s posters still valid?
Only if the agency has not issued a required update. DOL’s poster page lists revision dates. EEOC’s current required notice is the “Know Your Rights” poster, not the older “EEO is the Law” poster.
Can I print on regular letter paper?
Many DOL and EEOC PDFs can be printed on standard paper if the text stays readable. The OSHA poster is different: reproductions must be at least 8.5 by 14 inches with 10-point type.
Where should remote-only companies post notices?
If employees never report to a physical site, some agencies allow posting on an internal website or other electronic notice that workers can access. Confirm the rule for each statute. If anyone comes on site to work or apply, post printed notices there.
What happens if I don’t post them?
Penalties vary by law. Failure to post the EEOC notice can bring a monetary penalty that is adjusted for inflation. OSHA also penalizes failure to post its notice. Missing posters can also create problems during an agency investigation.
Official free printables live on government sites. Use the DOL Workplace Posters page, the Poster Advisor, the EEOC poster page, and the OSHA poster page, then add your state’s required notices from your state labor office.