What's New!

Employers Must Update Federal Postings

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently revised its "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law" poster. This posting notifies employees of current federal laws prohibiting job discrimination based on race, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, religion, age, equal pay, disability, and genetic information. The revised poster incorporates the recent changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and updates from the Department of Labor.

Employers with 15 or more employees (those covered by federal nondiscrimination laws) must display this poster in a conspicuous place on the premises where employees can see it.

In addition, the federal minimum wage increased to $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. Although Oregon and Washington employers must pay their state's higher minimum wage rates, they must nonetheless post the federal minimum wage rate if they are subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act (which covers most private employers).

Employers should update their posters right away. A federal court in New York recently allowed the discrimination claims of two Chinese workers to proceed--even though the claims were filed late--because the employer did not post an employee rights notice and the employees were unaware of their rights. Accurate labor law postings matter!

How can you get in compliance? You have two easy options:

• Print and post the EEOC's November 2009 version of the poster. Click here: Printable poster.
• Or, order a full-color labor law poster with all mandatory state and federal postings in an all-in-one format from UEA. You can also purchase federal-only or state-only posters. UEA members receive discounted pricing. To order, or for more information, click here: Poster resource center.