Washington DC Labor Law Posters
Employers are required to display both state and federal labor and employment posters. This means that employers must post certain notices in their workplaces so employees have access to information about the applicable labor laws. These posters, also known as workplace postings or workplace compliance posters, can be downloaded for free from our website.
Posting Requirements
The type of posters you are required to post will be determined by:
- The nature of your business
- The number of employees
- The primary language spoken by your employees
- Whether you employ people with disabilities
- Whether you employ minors
All notices must be posted in a conspicuous place so that they can be seen and read by employees. Failure to post notices can result in stiff penalties and possible fines.
Don't forget to visit our federal poster page to see if you require additional federal posters specific to your organization.
Find the Right Poster for You
The posters we provide are organized into four sections:
Mandatory for All Washington DC Employers
DC Equal Employment Opportunity
The “Equal Employment Opportunity” Poster provides information on the DC Human Rights Act, the DC Family and Medical Leave Act, the DC Parental Leave Act, and contact information for the Office of Human Rights.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
DC Minimum Wage
The “Washington DC Minimum Wage” Poster outlines the provisions of the Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2013.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
[English]
DC Family and Medical Leave Act
The “DC Family and Medical Leave Act” Poster describes employees’ rights under the DC Family and Medical Leave Act.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
Right to Breastfeed
The “Right to Breastfeed” Poster covers breastfeeding rights under the Washington DC Human Rights Act of 1977. It also includes contact information for the Office of Human Rights.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
[English]
DC Parental Leave Act
The “Washington DC Parental Leave Act” allows employees who are parents or guardians to take 24 hours of leave (paid or unpaid) during a 12 month period to attend school-related activities.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
Unemployment Insurance
The “Unemployment Insurance” Notice explains the rights of employees under the DC Unemployment Compensation Act, which insures workers from complete loss of wages when unemployed through no fault of their own.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it. You can obtain this poster by contacting:
Office of Unemployment Compensation
4058 Minnesota Avenue, NE – 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20019
Phone: (202) 698-7550
Fax: (202) 698-5706
Required for: All DC Employers.
Protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
The “Protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act” (PPW) requires Washington DC employers to provide reasonable workplace accommodations for employees whose ability to perform job duties is limited because of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or a related medical condition.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
DC Child Labor Law
The “Provisions of the DC Child Labor Law” Poster explains the provisions of the DC Child Labor Law regarding the employment of minors and work permit requirements.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
[English]
Paid Family Leave
The “Public Notice to Washington DC Employers and Employees for Paid Family Leave” describes what a covered employee is entitled to under the Paid Family Leave Act. On July 1, 2019, the District began the collection of taxes from employers and on July 1, 2020, the District will begin administering paid leave benefits.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
[English]
Wage Theft Prevention Act
The “Wage Theft Prevention Amendment Act of 2014” Notice describes the requirements employers need to meet to be in accordance with the Act, and other details.
The notice must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
[English]
Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008
The “Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act” requires employers to provide paid sick leave to employees for their own or family members’ illnesses or medical appointments and for absences associated with domestic violence or sexual abuse.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
Smoke-Free Workplaces
Washington DC's smoking ban prohibits smoking in workplaces and enclosed public places.
In any place where smoking is prohibited, signs must be posted conspicuously that read, "No Smoking Under Penalty of Law". The sign must also include the following warning: “Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may cause fetal injury, premature birth, and low birth weight in pregnant women.” The sign will also state the maximum fine for a violation.
Signs must be posted within each building where smoking is prohibited, and at each entrance.
Required for: All DC Employers.
Federally Mandated
OSHA - Job Safety & Health Protection: It's the Law
The "Job Safety and Health: It’s the Law" Poster informs workers of their rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Employers in states operating OSHA-approved state plans should obtain and post the state’s equivalent poster.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer's premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
[English] [Spanish] [Polish] [Portuguese]
Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law
Executive Order 11246 (E.O. 11246), also known as the "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law" Poster, prohibits certain Federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Additionally, it protects applicants and employees from discriminatory discipline, including firing, for asking about, discussing, or disclosing their pay or the pay of their co-workers. E.O. 11246 also requires covered government contractors to take affirmative action to ensure that equal opportunity is provided in all aspects of employment.
Post copies of the poster, supplement, and provision in conspicuous places available to employees, applicants for employment, and send to representatives of labor organizations with which there is a collective bargaining agreement.
Required for: All DC Employers.
Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
The "Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards" Poster establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in federal, state, and local governments. The FLSA requires employers to pay covered nonexempt employees a minimum wage of not less than $7.25 per hour.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer's premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
Large Posters: [English] [Spanish] [Chinese] [Russian] [Thai] [Hmong] [Vietnamese] [Korean] [Polish]
Family and Medical Leave Act
The "Family and Medical Leave Act" entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer's premises where employees and applicants for employment can readily see it. It may also be posted electronically if all other requirements have been met, but the electronic posting can not replace the physical posters.
Required for: All DC Employers.
Employee Polygraph Protection Act
The "Employee Polygraph Protection Act" (EPPA) generally prevents private sector employers from using lie detector tests, either for pre-employment screening or during the course of employment, with certain exceptions. Employers generally may not require or request any employee or job applicant to take a lie detector test, or discharge, discipline, or discriminate against an employee or job applicant for refusing to take a test.
EPPA excludes federal, state, and local government agencies from the Act's coverage, with respect to public employees. Lie detector tests may also be administered by the Federal Government to employees of Federal contractors engaged in national security intelligence or counterintelligence functions.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer's premises where employees and applicants for employment can readily see it.
Required for: All DC Employers.
USERRA - Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
Employers are required to provide to persons entitled to the rights and benefits under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), a notice of the rights, benefits, and obligations of such persons and such employers under USERRA.
Employers may provide the notice, "Your Rights Under USERRA", by posting it where employee notices are customarily placed. However, employers are free to provide the notice to employees in other ways that will minimize costs if the full text of the notice is provided (e.g., by handing or mailing out the notice, or distributing the notice via electronic mail).
Required for: All DC Employers.
Mandatory for Some Washington DC Employers
Workers' Compensation Notice
The “Workers’ Compensation” Notice is a Notice of Compliance to employees and employers that explains the rights and responsibilities of both parties when private sector employees are injured on the job.
The poster must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer's premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: DC Employers in the private sector.
This Organization Participates in E-Verify
The “This Organization Participates in E-Verify” Poster informs employees that this employer will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm that they are authorized to work in the U.S.
This notice must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All Employers who participate in E-Verify.
If You Have the Right to Work Don’t Let Anyone Take it Away
The “If You Have the Right to Work Don’t Let Anyone Take it Away” Poster from the Department of Justice informs employees that if they have the skills, experience, and legal right to work, their citizenship or immigration status shouldn’t merit discrimination in the workplace. This poster also provides contact information for the Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER).
This notice must be posted in a conspicuous area on the employer’s premises where employees can readily see it.
Required for: All Employers who participate in E-Verify.
Recommended
IRS Withholding Notice
Publication 213, the "IRS Withholding Notice", is a bulletin board poster advising workers to consider whether they need to file a new Form W-4 with their employer, including options that would affect that decision like marriage or divorce, change of name, gain or loss of a dependent, or changes to income.
All Employers have the option to post this notice, but it is not required.
[English]
Non-Discrimination in Public Accommodations
The “Non-Discrimination in Public Accommodations” Poster describes how the Washington DC does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived: race, color, sex (gender or sexual harassment), national origin, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, source of income, place of residence or business. The poster also provides contact information for the Office of Human Rights.
This poster is not required but the Office of Human Rights highly recommends posting this in the workplace.
[English]
LGBTQ Diversity in Workplace
The “Diversity in the Workplace Best Practices in DC Government” Poster lists some best practices for interacting with LGBTQ colleagues and constituents in a respectful and non-discriminatory manner.
This poster is not required but the Office of Human Rights highly recommends posting this in the workplace.
[English]