Every year the N.C. Department of Labor receives complaints of poster companies that use scare tactics to sell labor law posters. NCDOL says threats of being fined are bogus and should be ignored.
“Poster companies have been known to charge more than $150 for the posters,” Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said. “I want the business community to know that the labor law posters are available from NCDOL free of charge.”
Recently, NCDOL obtained letters from poster companies, which include false information that employers will be fined as much as $17,000 by NCDOL for displaying out-of-date posters. The N.C. Department of Labor will not fine businesses that have the old posters displayed. NCDOL inspectors carry the newest posters in their vehicles and will offer them free to employers who have out-of-date posters.
“We would never fine an employer unless the employer just blatantly refused to put the posters up,” Commissioner Berry said. “I don’t know of any employer who has refused to take a free set of posters from one of our inspectors.”
The labor law posters are required under North Carolina law. The posters carry information on the state’s Wage and Hour Act and what are commonly referred to as “OSHA” regulations, or the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
In 2017, labor law posters provided by the N.C. Department of Labor were updated to include the required information pertaining to the N.C. Employee Fair Classification Act, which took effect Dec. 31, 2017.
Businesses that need to order new posters can visit NCDOL's website or call 1-800-NC-LABOR (1-800-625-2267).