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Department of Labor Workplace Requirements

Background

If you are an employer in the United States, you likely know of a branch of our government called the Department of Labor (DOL). What you may not be aware of is how to address the many obligations and requirements that employers must comply with. Since this is a very broad subject, and can vary from one location to another, please consider the following as an overview, and resource for more information.

The Department of Labor (DOL) advertizes their mission as:

"The Department of Labor fosters and promotes the welfare of the job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of the United States by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities for profitable employment, protecting their retirement and health care benefits, helping employers find workers, strengthening free collective bargaining, and tracking changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements. In carrying out this mission, the Department administers a variety of Federal labor laws including those that guarantee workers’ rights to safe and healthful working conditions; a minimum hourly wage and overtime pay; freedom from employment discrimination; unemployment insurance; and other income support."

To achieve the mission the DOL has laid out, the requirements need to be communicated to all involved. Typically, the communication is via postings that literally spell out the requirements, procedures and benefits. This can prove to be a significant challenge to many employers because the information may change periodically, may vary from one place to another and may require interpretation for proper application.

Posting requirements can be industry specific, based upon the employer size, employer activities, workforce demographics, and many other parameters. Determining what documents to post, and where to post them are common issues that many employers struggle with. To help simplify matters, and to answer commonly asked questions, the DOL has set up a website that offers assistance to those in need.

The Poster Advisor is a tool designed to help employers comply with the posting requirements of several laws administered by the DOL. These laws require employers to display official DOL posters where employees can readily observe them. Please note: the Poster Advisor only provides information about Federal requirements. You would need to contact your State Department of Labor to obtain additional information about specific state and local requirements. You can find additional resources and state specific links at Business.gov.

Maintaining compliance with the DOL requirements can raise many questions. There are numerous resources available to help answer those questions, starting with those that are common or frequently asked questions (FAQ). For more detailed information about questions not addressed by the FAQ, the DOL offers a Compliance Assistance tool. Finally, to contact the DOL directly, they offer many different contact options.

Lab Safety Supply (LSS) offers these options to meet specific Federal Department of Labor requirements. The primary difference between the product LSS offers and what is provided by the government is that the products being sold by LSS are laminated for protection.

Commonly Asked Questions

Sources for More Information

Federal Department of Labor
State Departments of Labor
OSHA – a division of the Federal Department of Labor

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Please Note: The information contained in this publication is intended for general information purposes only. This publication is not a substitute for review of the applicable government regulations and standards, and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the cited regulation or consult with an attorney.