Most employers are aware of their responsibility to display labor law posters in a conspicuous place that employees can easily access. But did you know these posters must be updated whenever the laws change? There have been over 90 labor law poster updates in 2017, so far! Furthermore, it is likely that your business’s labor law posters needed updating at least once within the last eight months.
You might ask, “I change my posters at the beginning of each year, isn’t that good enough?” That’s great! However, that does not mean you are compliant with all the mandatory 2017 labor law poster updates. Here’s why: The issuing agencies that make and enforce labor regulations can ratify laws throughout the year. Furthermore, a poster printed in January 2017 may not include a new mandatory labor law issued in July 2017.
Keeping mandatory labor law posters up-to-date is important for two reasons:
- It is the law. An employer who chooses to not post or update mandatory labor law notices is in violation of the law. Violators can be fined for noncompliance or may face a lawsuit.
- It shows that you are a person of integrity. Your employees will see that you value them and recognize their right
We’ve listed all mandatory changes to labor law posting requirements in 2017 below. We also have a more in-depth list of labor law updates available. By tracking the 2017 labor law poster updates, we have identified employment law trends that may help us anticipate future updates.
Minimum Wage
Since January 2017, we’ve had 47 state and municipality labor law changes to labor law posting requirements regarding minimum wage, or living wage. Many of these changes resulted from the implementation of annual minimum wage increases and several were brand-new laws. Some states and municipalities only changed the information on how employers must pay out wages—also known as Wage and Hour Laws.
Sick Time and Sick Leave
Labor laws that allow employees to accrue sick time from their employers are on the rise. However, the terms of paid sick time or paid sick leave differ among states and municipalities. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, paid sick leave laws are different from the rights and protections under the federal Family Medical Leave Act, which includes up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave.
Other Labor Law Updates in 2017
Due to the increase in many Minimum Wage and Sick Leave laws this year, it is easy to identify trends and anticipate future updates regarding these ordinances. However, employers should also be aware of labor law poster changes that affect smaller vicinities. The following ordinances have shown slight activity in 2017, but should still be kept track of—especially if you operate a business in or near any of the locations that were affected:
- Workers’ Compensation
- Discrimination
- Unemployment Insurance Benefits
- Occupational Safety & Health
2017 Labor Law Poster Updates by State
State |
Labor Law Update |
Effective Date |
Alaska |
Minimum Wage |
January 1, 2017 |
Arizona |
Minimum Wage
Paid Sick Leave |
January 1, 2017
July 1, 2017 |
California |
Minimum Wage |
January 1, 2017 |
Colorado |
Minimum Wage |
January 1, 2017 |
Delaware |
Discrimination
Workers”™ Compensation |
January 17, 2017
January 31, 2017 |
Florida |
Minimum Wage |
January 1, 2017 |
Idaho |
Discrimination |
March 1, 2017 |
Kentucky |
Equal Employment Opportunity
Kentucky OSHA |
February 2017*
January 2017* |
Louisiana |
Earned Income Credit |
March 2017* |
Maine |
Minimum Wage
Employment Security
Child Labor Laws |
January 7, 2017
January 2017*
July 2017* |
Massachusetts |
Wage & Hour |
January 2017 |
Michigan |
Minimum Wage
Discrimination |
January 1, 2017
March 2017* |
Missouri |
Minimum Wage
Workers”™ Compensation |
January 1, 2017
April 2017* |
Nebraska |
Unemployment Insurance |
January 2017* |
Nevada |
Annual Minimum Wage Bulletin
Annual
Nursing Mother”™s Accommodation Act
Pregnant Workers”™ Fairness Act |
April 1, 2017
April 1, 2017
July 1, 2017
October 1, 2017 |
New Hampshire |
Protective Legislation Law |
July 2017 |
New Jersey |
Minimum Wage |
January 1, 2017 |
New York |
Minimum Wage |
January 1, 2017 |
Ohio |
Minimum Wage |
January 1, 2017 |
Oregon |
Minimum Wage |
July 1, 2017 |
Rhode Island |
Unemployment/Disability |
July 2017 |
South Dakota |
Minimum Wage |
January 1, 2017 |
Tennessee |
Unemployment Insurance
Wage Regulations/Child Labor |
March 2017*
August 2017* |
Utah |
Workers”™ Compensation |
May 2017* |
Vermont |
Minimum Wage
Paid Sick Leave |
January 1, 2017
January 1, 2017 |
Virginia |
Earned Income Tax Credit
VOSH (Safety & Health) |
March 2017*
July 2017* |
Washington |
Unemployment Benefits
Minimum Wage |
January 2017*
January 1, 2017 |
West Virginia |
Wage Payment & Collection Act
Wage Payment & Collection Act |
March 2017*
June 2017* |
Wisconsin |
Unemployment Insurance |
May 2017* |
Federal Contractor |
Minimum Wage
Paid Sick Leave |
January 1, 2017
January 1, 2017 |
*Date notice was issued; there is no effective date provided in the law.
2017 Labor Law Poster Updates by City/County
City/County |
Labor Law Update |
Effective Date |
Albuquerque NM |
Minimum Wage |
January 1, 2017 |
Berkeley CA |
Minimum Wage
Paid Sick Leave
Family-Friendly and |
October 1, 2017
October 1, 2017
July 2017* |
Bernalillo County NM |
Minimum Wage |
January 1, 2017 |
Chicago IL |