Labor Law Posters: The 2019 Updates

2019 Labor Law Poster Updates: Mid-Year Review

During the first half of 2019, employers across the United States faced numerous changes involving minimum wage requirements, paid sick leave, workplace safety notices, and other employment regulations.

Federal, state, and local agencies periodically revise workplace notices to reflect changes in employment laws, employee rights, and administrative information.

This article provides a historical review of labor law poster developments reported during 2019. Employers seeking current workplace posting requirements should consult the applicable government agencies and review updated labor law posters for their locations.

Why Labor Law Poster Updates Matter

Many employers are required to display workplace notices informing employees about applicable employment laws and protections.

These notices may address minimum wage, overtime, discrimination, workplace safety, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, and paid leave requirements.

Employers should periodically review their workplace posters to determine whether required notices have been revised.

Not every employment law change requires replacement of a workplace poster, and employers do not necessarily need to replace every poster annually.

Minimum Wage Changes During 2019

Minimum wage increases were among the most significant employment law developments during 2019.

Numerous states and local jurisdictions implemented scheduled wage increases or adjustments based on previously enacted legislation.

Some changes took effect at the beginning of the calendar year, while others became effective later in 2019.

For example, New York's minimum wage schedule included changes effective December 31, 2018, affecting wage requirements entering 2019.

Several California cities also implemented local minimum wage adjustments during 2019.

Employers operating in multiple jurisdictions needed to review both state and local wage requirements.

Other Workplace Notice Changes Reported in 2019

In addition to minimum wage updates, workplace notices were revised or reviewed in several other employment law categories.

• Unemployment Insurance: Changes involving benefit information, agency instructions, and administrative requirements.
• Employment Discrimination: Revisions involving employee protections and enforcement information.
• Sexual Harassment: Updates to workplace harassment prevention and employee rights notices.
• Occupational Safety and Health: Changes involving workplace safety notices and agency information.
• Workers' Compensation: Revisions to employee benefit information and workplace notice requirements.
• Paid Sick Leave: Updates involving employee leave rights and applicable employer obligations.

The specific requirements varied by jurisdiction and the employment laws applicable to each business.

States Identified in the 2019 Labor Law Poster Review

The original mid-year review identified the following states and jurisdictions as having labor law developments or workplace notice changes during 2019.

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode Island

These links lead to state-specific Labor Law Compliance Center pages where employers can explore workplace posting information and available products.

California City and Local Minimum Wage Changes

California municipalities were particularly active in implementing local minimum wage requirements during 2019.

The original review identified several cities with local wage developments, including:

• Alameda
• Belmont
• Berkeley
• Cupertino
• Daly City
• El Cerrito
• Fremont
• Los Altos
• Los Angeles
• Mountain View
• Milpitas
• Oakland
• Palo Alto
• Pasadena
• Redwood City
• Richmond
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• San Jose
• San Leandro
• San Mateo
• Santa Clara
• Santa Monica
• Sunnyvale

Employers operating in these jurisdictions needed to evaluate applicable local wage and workplace notice requirements.

Visit our California Labor Law Posters page for additional state-specific compliance information and available products.

Other Local Jurisdictions Discussed in the 2019 Review

The original report also discussed employment law developments affecting several other local jurisdictions, including:

• Flagstaff, Arizona
• Chicago, Illinois
• Cook County, Illinois
• Portland, Maine
• Montgomery County, Maryland
• Prince George's County, Maryland

Local workplace requirements may differ from statewide requirements and can change over time.

Employers should review current local ordinances before determining whether supplemental workplace notices are required.

How Employers Can Manage Labor Law Poster Changes

Businesses can take several practical steps to help maintain workplace posting compliance.

• Identify the federal, state, and local notices applicable to each workplace.
• Monitor official government agency updates.
• Review minimum wage and paid leave changes affecting each location.
• Check whether revised workplace notices are mandatory.
• Replace outdated notices when required.
• Maintain appropriate posting access for employees and applicants.
• Consider a poster replacement service for qualifying updates.

Do Employers Need New Labor Law Posters Every Year?

There is no universal requirement to replace every labor law poster annually.

Employers generally need to update required notices when applicable posting requirements change.

Some notices remain valid for extended periods, while others are revised more frequently.

Frequently Asked Questions About Labor Law Poster Updates

Why do labor law posters change?

Posters may change following new legislation, regulatory revisions, updated wage rates, changes to employee protections, or revised agency information.

Do minimum wage increases always require new posters?

Not necessarily. Employers should determine whether the applicable government agency has issued a revised mandatory notice.

Can cities require additional labor law posters?

Yes. Some cities and counties establish workplace posting requirements involving local minimum wage, paid leave, and other employee rights.

Do multi-location employers need different posters?

Possibly. Posting requirements may vary between states, cities, counties, and workplaces. Employers should evaluate the requirements applicable to each location.

Can employers obtain official workplace notices for free?

Many official workplace notices are available without charge from government agencies. Employers may also purchase commercially printed combination posters for convenience.

Labor Law Posters and Compliance Resources

Labor Law Compliance Center has provided workplace posting products and compliance resources to employers since 2005.

Browse our State and Federal Combination Labor Law Posters for available workplace posting products.

Employers can also explore our Poster Replacement Plan to help manage qualifying workplace poster revisions.

For additional information, visit the Labor Law Compliance Center homepage.

Historical compliance note: This article reviews workplace posting developments reported during 2019. It does not provide current minimum wage rates or a complete list of present-day posting requirements. Employers should consult current official agency guidance and applicable laws.