Most employers know they must display labor law posters for employees, but many don’t realize certain postings must also be visible to job applicants. In fact, of the six mandatory federal postings, four must be accessible to applicants. Nearly half of U.S. states and several cities also require location-specific job applicant notices.
If you have candidates visiting your facility for any reason — from dropping off a resume to participating in an interview — you must ensure the appropriate postings are visible.
Which Job Applicant Postings Must Be Displayed?
Job applicants must be able to view these federally required postings at your business location:
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): Covers anti-discrimination provisions and legally protected characteristics.
- Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA): Addresses re-employment after military leave, anti-discrimination provisions and health insurance issues. (Note: This one is recommended as a best practice because the law protects applicants.)
- Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA): Describes the rules around lie detector tests in employment, which is mandatory even if you don’t use lie detectors.
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Explains employee leave eligibility and benefits, as well as employer responsibilities.
To maintain compliance, these posters must be displayed in highly visible locations accessible to all employees and applicants. In a small office, a single display in a shared area — such as a lobby or hallway — may suffice. In larger workplaces, consider posting near entrances, break rooms and HR offices to ensure visibility.
Examples of State and Local Job Applicant Postings
Beyond federal posters, many jurisdictions require their own applicant-facing labor law posters. Examples include:
- California – Discrimination and Harassment Notice, Rights and Obligations as a Pregnant Employee Notice
- Flagstaff, AZ – Non-Discrimination Notice
- Los Angeles & Philadelphia – Fair Chance Hiring Notice
- New York – Whistleblower Protection Notice
- New Jersey – Discrimination in Employment Notice
- New Mexico – Workers’ Compensation Poster
- Nevada – Lie Detector Tests Poster
- Rhode Island – Parental and Family Leave Notice
- San Francisco – Salary History Notice
- Wisconsin – Fair Employment Notice
Additionally, some locations may require the Right to Work and E-Verify posters to be visible to applicants.
What About Online Applicants?
Labor law compliance doesn’t end with your physical space. If you accept online job applications, you must also provide electronic access to required postings.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), electronic postings can satisfy posting requirements for job applicants — but only if certain conditions are met. These include conducting all aspects of the hiring process remotely, using electronic communication as a standard practice, and providing continuous, unrestricted access to the postings on a website or platform applicants can easily view.
To support compliance, the DOL recommends including a notice near the online job application that reads: “Applicants have rights under federal and state employment laws.”
Keep in mind: if any part of your hiring process takes place onsite, physical posters must still be displayed in areas visible to applicants.
Solutions to Meet Job Applicant Posting Requirements with Ease
To simplify compliance for both in-person and online applicants, consider these trusted tools:
Poster Guard® Applicant Area Federal Poster Service - A bold, laminated, all-in-one poster that covers required federal postings for job applicants, plus two additional recommended notices (Immigration/I-9 and Drug-Free Workplace). Includes 12 months of automatic replacements if laws change. Also available in compact sticker format, ideal for kiosks and small spaces.
Online Applicant Posting Service - A fully electronic solution that delivers all federal, state and local job applicant postings in a web-based format. Includes 12 months of automatic updates. Postings are easily linkable from your online application form or careers page.
