Employers in California are governed by federal labor laws and various state laws enforced by the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), and other agencies. To be in compliance, all California employers are required to conspicuously post more than a dozen notices. Employers of certain sizes or in certain industries are subject to additional posting requirements.
To understand these posting requirements, let’s first review some of the federal labor laws that govern California employers. Then we’ll take a closer look at some of the state-specific labor laws in California.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the EEOC), a federal agency designed to protect Americans from workplace discrimination. Equal employment opportunity is required under various laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
Employers may not take adverse action against prospective or current employees based on their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. To ensure employee awareness and employer compliance with the law, most employers are required to post the EEO is the Law poster, which includes information about how employees can file a complaint, and the EEO is the Law Poster Supplement.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1993. The FMLA covers all public employers, all public and private elementary and secondary schools, and private companies with 50 or more employees.
To foster healthy work-life balance and equal employment opportunity, the FMLA requires covered employers to grant eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave under certain circumstances, including the following:
The FMLA requires employers to display a poster outlining the employee leave entitlements, benefits, protections, and eligibility requirements provided for in the Act.
The EPPA prohibits private employers, in most instances, from asking employees or job applicants to take a lie detector test. Employers also cannot take any disciplinary action against employees or prospective employees who refuse to take a lie detector test.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was originally enacted in 1938. It establishes the minimum wage, eligibility for overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards.
Private employers and federal, state, and local government employers are governed by the standards established in the FLSA. Effective July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The FLSA has posting requirements for provisions within the Act, including minimum wage information. Many state governments require additional posters regarding minimum wage and overtime pay, among other wage and hour topics.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal agency established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act passed by Congress and signed into law by President Nixon in 1970. The U.S. Department of Labor defines OSHA”™s mission: “to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.”
All public and most private employers must provide a safe work environment for their employees. The U.S. Department of Labor provides a detailed summary of key employer responsibilities that include compliance inspections, workplace injury recordkeeping, and mandatory workplace postings.
In addition to these federal law requirements, California employers must also comply with the California DIR’s list of posting requirements. Here is an alphabetical list of postings required by the California DIR for all employers.
California OSHA regulations require employers to post safety data sheets for chemicals used in the workplace, and employees have the right to review their own medical records and records of exposure to toxic substances or harmful physical agents—as well as the exposure records of employees in similar work conditions.
The California Code of Regulations requires all employers to post emergency phone numbers near a telephone, or otherwise make it available if there isn’t a telephone at the job site.
Under the California Family Rights Act of 1993, employees may have the right to family care or medical leave of up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child, or for a serious health condition that affects the employee or their child, parent, or spouse. Employees may also have the right to family care leave under the New Parent Leave Act.
Under the California Labor Code, all employers must post minimum wage and industry-specific wage orders in “a conspicuous location frequented by employees during the hours of the workday.”
This notice, provided by the California Division of Workers’ Compensation, advises employees of their rights and benefits related to workplace injuries and the steps they must take in order to receive benefits.
All employers must conspicuously display a poster providing specific information about paid sick days under the California Healthy Workplaces/Healthy Families Act.
California employers must conspicuously post the specific date(s), time(s), and place(s) of payment.
California employers are required to display a poster explaining an employer’s obligation to accommodate employees who are pregnant, have a medical condition related to their pregnancy, or are recovering from childbirth.
Employers must post the California OSHA poster regarding occupational safety, job hazards, and employee health standards.
All employers must post signage identifying permitted and prohibited smoking areas in and around the workplace.
Employees have the right to take time off from work to vote if they do not have time outside of working hours. This notice must be posted at least 10 days before every statewide election.
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing requires employers to display this poster, which defines the word “transgender,” describes gender transition, sets forth employer obligations, and explains how discrimination victims can file a complaint.
This required poster, issued by the California Employment Development Department, outlines how employees can file for unemployment insurance and disability insurance, as well as Paid Family Leave to care for a seriously ill family member.
A whistleblower is an employee who reports wrongdoing by an employer to a supervisor, investigator, law enforcement official, or an investigative public body. The California Labor Code requires employers to post whistleblower protections information in 14-point or larger font. This information includes instructions for reporting improper acts to the California State Attorney General.
All employers must post a notice containing information about their workers’ compensation insurance carrier or a statement that the employer is self-insured. Additionally, this notice must include injury, treatment, and compensation information. This notice must be obtained from the employer’s insurance carrier.
California employment law is much broader than the federal EEO laws. The law protects employees from discrimination and harassment in a variety of protected categories. These include ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender identity and gender expression, marital status, medical conditions, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex/gender, and sexual orientation. The required poster includes information about employer obligations and complaint mechanisms.
With a large number of federal and state posting requirements in California, it can be a headache to keep up with the latest versions of the laws and posters. An all-in-one set of federal and California posters can make it easier for California employers to comply with the laws.
Keep in mind that, depending on an employer’s size or industry, the California DIR may require additional mandatory postings than the ones described here. Our website also includes a list of California posting requirements. Please call us at (800) 322-3636 if you have any questions about your posting requirements under California law.
