Updated: October 2026
If you're responsible for workplace compliance, you already know that labor law posters are required. The real question is whether the ones hanging in your workplace are still current.
Labor law posters don't technically expire, but they must be replaced whenever a federal or state agency issues a new version. Federal agencies update posters when the underlying law changes, and states often issue several updates a year for wage, leave and workers' compensation laws. A poster that was compliant last year, or even last quarter, may already be outdated.
This article explains when posters need replacing, which federal posters most employers need, what missing posters can cost, and how National Safety Compliance's labor law poster subscription keeps them current. For the full picture of federal and state requirements, see our Complete Guide to Federal and State Labor Law Poster Requirements.
Do Labor Law Posters Expire?
Labor law posters have no expiration date. They must reflect the current law once an agency issues an updated poster.
If a law changes but the agency hasn't released a new poster yet, your current version remains valid. Once the updated poster is available, replace the old one promptly. Posters typically change when:
- The Department of Labor (DOL) revises a federal notice, such as the minimum wage or FMLA poster.
- OSHA revises its required posting.
- States change laws on minimum wage, paid leave, workers' compensation or unemployment benefits.
What About Fines?
Fines apply when an employer fails to display a required notice, including failing to replace a poster after an official update. Penalties vary by law and agency. For 2026, federal agencies made no inflation adjustment, so the 2025 maximums still apply:
- OSHA Job Safety and Health poster: up to $16,550 per posting violation
- Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA): up to $26,262 per violation of the Act, which includes its notice requirement
- FMLA poster: up to $216 for each willful violation of the posting requirement
- EEOC "Know Your Rights" poster: up to $698 for each separate offense
What This Means for Employers
Together, the maximum federal penalties for these four notices exceed $43,000 per location. State penalties for missing state notices are separate and vary by state.
Which Federal Posters Do Most Employers Need?
At the federal level, most private employers need these notices:
OSHA Job Safety and Health: It's the Law!
Required under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. It tells employees they have the right to a safe workplace and how to report hazards to OSHA. Employers in states with an OSHA-approved State Plan display the State Plan's version.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Poster
Covers the federal minimum wage, overtime pay and child labor rules. Employers covered by the FLSA must display it even where the state minimum wage is higher.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster
Required for covered employers, generally private employers with 50 or more employees, public agencies, and schools. It explains employees' rights to unpaid, job-protected leave for family and medical reasons.
EEOC "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination Is Illegal" Poster
Generally required for employers with 15 or more employees. It covers protection from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability and genetic information.
Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster
Applies to most private employers. It explains that employers generally cannot require or request a lie detector test, with limited exceptions.
Every state also requires its own workplace posters, which commonly cover:
- State minimum wage and overtime
- Paid sick or family leave
- Workers' compensation coverage
- Unemployment insurance benefits
Display posters in a visible, accessible area where employees can read them, most often in break rooms, near time clocks or in other high-traffic areas.
Some industries, such as construction and agriculture, need notices beyond these. See our Industry-Specific and Topic-Based Labor Law Poster Requirements.
For employees who work remotely or on changing job sites, NSC also offers labor law posters in PDF format.
Why Outdated Posters Put Employers at Risk
- Financial penalties: Federal maximums for missing notices exceed $43,000 per location, and state penalties are separate.
- Legal exposure: In a wage, leave or discrimination dispute, failing to display the required notice can be used against an employer.
- Employee relations: Employees rely on posters for information about their rights. Outdated postings undermine trust.
Our team monitors regulatory changes year-round so every poster we provide reflects current federal and state requirements.
How Often Do Labor Law Posters Change?
There is no fixed schedule. Some changes are annual, others happen mid-year or with little notice:
- Federal updates: Less frequent but nationwide, such as a revised EEOC or FMLA poster.
- State updates: Often annual. Many states change minimum wage on January 1, and some make mid-year changes on July 1 or other dates.
- Local updates: Some cities and counties require their own minimum wage or paid sick leave notices.
For a full replacement schedule, see Labor Law Poster Update Frequency: How Often to Replace Your Posters.
Tip: The U.S. Department of Labor's FirstStep Poster Advisor lists the federal posters that apply to your business based on a few questions.
The Smart Solution: Labor Law Poster Subscription
An NSC labor law poster subscription tracks federal and state poster requirements for you. With a subscription, you receive:
- Automatic updates whenever a federal or state agency issues a new mandatory poster
- Compliant replacements shipped directly to your business
- Year-round coverage so your workplace meets posting requirements
Why Employers Trust NSC for Workplace Compliance
- Decades of experience: Over 20 years helping employers meet posting and training requirements.
- Thousands of clients: From small businesses to national enterprises.
- Full-service solutions: Safety posters, training videos and compliance guides, including OSHA training requirements by job role.
Labor Law Poster FAQs
Q: Do labor law posters expire?
A: No. They must show the current information once an agency issues an update. If a law changes but no new poster has been released, your existing version remains valid until the updated one is available.
Q: What posters are required by OSHA?
A: The OSHA Job Safety and Health: It's the Law! poster, or the State Plan version in State Plan states. Other federal notices, such as FLSA and FMLA, come from other agencies.
Q: How often do posters change?
A: There's no set schedule. Federal changes are occasional, but many states update annually or several times a year.
Q: What is a labor law poster subscription?
A: With a one-year NSC subscription, we ship updated posters whenever mandatory changes occur, at no extra cost.
Q: Do I need posters at every location?
A: Yes. Each workplace must display its own posters in a clearly visible area employees can reach.
Q: Can posters be digital?
A: Sometimes. Under federal guidance, electronic posting can satisfy federal requirements for employees who work exclusively remotely and customarily receive information electronically. Employees who report to a worksite still need physical posters. A few states have their own rules: Ohio allows certain state notices online, New York requires electronic copies in addition to physical posters, and Illinois requires certain notices to be sent electronically to employees who don't report to a physical workplace. See our 2027 Compliance Alert: Labor Law Poster Rules and Digital Posting Requirements.
Q: What happens if I don't update posters?
A: You risk federal penalties that together can exceed $43,000 per location, plus separate state penalties.
Stay Ahead of Compliance Every Year
Labor law posters have no printed expiration date, but they must always show the latest official version. When agencies release new posters, replace outdated ones promptly.
NSC makes that simple. Explore our labor law posters and add a poster subscription to receive new posters whenever official updates occur.