Workplaces today are more diverse than ever, and labor law postings are designed to keep all employees informed of their rights. That’s why employers can’t assume English-only posters are enough. In fact, nearly half of all states require certain labor law postings in English and Spanish — regardless of whether every employee on staff speaks English.
States Requiring Spanish Postings for All Employers (Regardless of Workforce)
As of September 2025, these 21 states (plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico), have passed statutes requiring certain postings to be displayed in Spanish, even if you have no Spanish-speaking employees:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
Rules for Workplaces with Spanish-Speaking Employees
Companies with Spanish-speaking workers on staff have additional foreign labor law posting obligations. If you have locations with a "significant number" of Spanish-speaking employees who aren’t proficient in English, all federal postings should be displayed in both English and Spanish.
The law doesn’t define “significant number,” but as a rule of thumb, federal postings should be displayed in Spanish if 5% or more of employees at a location aren’t proficient in English.
Posting federal and state posters in both Spanish and English is a best practice that can provide added protection in a legal dispute. Plus, some state and local laws require postings in additional languages when 5–10% (or at least five) employees speak another language.
There are also some guidelines that apply with certain state and city/county postings, where postings should be displayed in any language spoken by 5-10% or more of employees, or that affect at least five employees. For example, these nine states (plus Washington, D.C.) require certain posters be displayed in Spanish if an employer has a certain number of employees who are not literate in English:
- California
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
Local Laws Requiring Foreign Language Postings
Several cities and counties add another layer of complexity with their own foreign language posting requirements.
Some examples include:
- San Francisco Minimum Wage, Family Friendly Workplace Ordinance, and Fair Chance Ordinance: Postings must be displayed in English, Spanish, Chinese and any other language spoken by at least 5 percent of employees at the workplace.
- Cupertino, California Minimum Wage: Postings must be displayed in the top three languages spoken in the city.
- Minneapolis, Minnesota Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave: Postings must be displayed in English and any language spoken by at least 5 percent of employees
Foreign Language Notifications Beyond Postings
Your responsibility doesn’t always end with displaying foreign language posters, as certain employee notices must also be provided in foreign languages.
For example, in New Jersey
- Employers with 10 or more employees must annually distribute a notice informing them of their protections and obligations under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act. This notice must be distributed in English and Spanish.
- Employers with 50 or more employees must distribute the New Jersey Gender Equity Notice to all new hires, to any employee upon his/her first request for the notice, and to all employees annually on or before December 31 of each year. Again, this notice must be distributed in English and Spanish.
Lock in Complete Coverage with Poster Guard
Full compliance with labor law posting rules – including foreign language requirements – is the only way to avoid costly fines and potential lawsuits. With Poster Guard® Poster Compliance Service, Spanish-language postings are included at no extra cost in every state where they’re legally required. For all other states, you can take advantage of optional bilingual (English and Spanish) posters.
To further simplify compliance, Poster Guard Plus also offers an employee handout service with ready access to all mandatory notices.
