Labor Laws by Topic and Audience

The United States Department of Labor (DOL) is tasked with the job of helping businesses comply with federal employment laws. This help, referred to as "compliance assistance" aids in the protection of worker wages, health coverage and retirement benefits, as well as provides guidelines to ensure the health and safety of the workforce, including the child workforce. The DOL requires that all business in the United States post certain federal labor law posters, as they apply by topic, by audience and by major law. Here, we’ll break down each segment and see what’s required.

The newest labor law poster is the H-2A Program poster, which is a result of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which states that employment of temporary non-immigrant workers is allowed in agriculture if and only if U.S. worker employment is not affected. Employers must notify employees (per written disclosure in their native language) regarding wages, hours, working conditions and benefits. The program also states that employers must provide transportation and housing at no additional cost, if workers cannot return home in the same day. It also states that these employees must receive worker’s compensation, tools to perform their job, and have to right to work in a non-discriminatory environment. Another common agricultural labor law poster is the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. All farms must make sure to post the appropriate state agricultural labor law posters, as well as document a safety plan as set forth by the DOL.

Businesses just getting off the ground need to realize that there are basic labor law posting requirements that must be met to meet state and federal compliance standards. These include information on job safety and health protection, equal opportunity and employment, Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage poster), rights for workers with disabilities, rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act and Polygraph Protection Act.

For youth in the workplace, the DOL has set forth standards under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which help to protect children in their place of employment. Such laws include minimum wage standards, limits on the number of hours and days that youth can be employed, and restrictions on the jobs and occupational duties that children can be assigned.

Besides federal and state labor law posters, the DOL also requires that businesses employing foreign workers, veterans or active duty men, or federal contractors, follow special guidelines as set forth by the department.