Labor law notices may be required, but not a supplier

By PHIL MULKINS World Action Line Editor - 11/3/2009


Dear Action Line: Our small business keeps getting these e-mails saying we're violating the law by not posting certain notices about state and federal labor laws. They claim to be working under contract for the U.S. Labor Department and are selling expensive posters featuring these laws. What's the deal? — M.T., Broken Arrow.

The Oklahoma Labor Department warns the business community that even though state and federal laws require certain labor law notices be posted at businesses, these laws do not require the notices be purchased from any particular company or to purchased at all.

Scammers often solicit and seek to charge business owners for these notices through mailed ads and e-mails over the Internet, often posing as government enforcers, without disclosing that such notices may be handmade or obtained from state and federal agencies at no cost.

This has been a problem for many years, and many businesses have these expensive color-printed posters, often sold in finished frames, hanging in their break rooms and human resources offices. As labor laws change, so do the scams and their forms of presentation. Once again, businesses are being contacted by these companies about buying such otherwise free notices.

The department puts out a "Workplace Poster Update," available at tulsaworld.com/OKlaborlawposters , that urges business operators: "Ensure your business has the updated, required and free posters for 2009. Do not be mislead by solicitations requiring payment for these posters. They are provided FREE through the Oklahoma Department of Labor."

Ads that imply employers are required to pay for these notices to comply with the law are inaccurate. Those suggesting the vendor is affiliated with the government or authorized by the government to provide the posters are false.

Employers who pay for this service often receive laminated versions of a notice, or a single poster that contains multiple required notices. It is important employers know they can obtain these notices free from the Department of Labor or even make the notices themselves and still be in full compliance with the law.

The department provides a list of all notices that must be posted at a workplace and who to contact to receive those signs free-of-charge.





Submit Action Line questions by calling 699-8888 or by e-mailing phil.mulkins@TulsaWorld.com or by mailing it to Tulsa World Action Line, PO Box 1770, Tulsa OK 74102-1770.




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