Federal Labor Law Posters for Job Applicants: What You Need to Know

You probably know that labor law posters are required to be posted for your employees so that they are informed of their rights granted by the state and federal governments. Your compliance posters are probably posted in a conspicuous location that your employees have access to, such as the breakroom, by the time clock, or near employee restrooms. However, your responsibility extends beyond just your employees to those whom you interview for company positions. Regardless of where you conduct your interviews, you need to be aware of your obligations to job applicants. Each applicant needs access to three federal labor law notices when interviewed.  

Three Federal Labor Law Posters Required for Job Applicants

  • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
    • Employers covered by the FMLA are required to post the federal FMLA labor law poster in a location that is readily visible to applicants for employment under 29 CFR § 825.300.
  • Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
    • All employers are required to post this labor law poster in a prominent location easily seen by job applicants under 29 CFR § 801.6.
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) – Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal
    • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, and Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) all explain that this notice must be posted prominently where an employer customarily posts all other notices to employees and applicants for employment.

Failing to display or virtually share these posters with applicants can result in fines: up to $204 per offense for the FMLA poster, up to $24,793 for the EPPA poster, and up to $659 for the EEO poster.

These three labor law poster notices are published on Poster Compliance Center’s Federal Labor Law Poster – Applicant Edition in an all-in-one, compact design to meet the requirements outlined above.

How to Post the Applicant Edition Poster

The Federal Applicant Edition poster must be posted on a wall in the interview area or displayed conspicuously on a table where employers and job applicants meet. (Make sure you continue to post your full-version federal labor law poster in a location accessible to employees in addition to the Federal Applicant Edition poster.)

Where to Post FMLA, EPPA, and EEO Posters for Virtual Applicants

According to the Department of Labor (DOL), employers should publish a conspicuous notice on their website where open positions are listed that states, “Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws,” and provide a link to the electronic versions of the three labor law posters. Keep in mind that the DOL makes clear that this does not replace the requirement to post labor law posters at the employer’s physical location.

Stay up to date with labor law changes or purchase an Application Edition of the Federal Labor Law poster and display it in your interview areas to ensure you are compliant. For all your poster compliance needs, the State & Federal Compliance Plan is the best way to stay on top of every mandatory labor law change as you will receive free updates anytime a change occurs.