Guest post regarding labor law in Texas in the US.
Why are labor law posters necessary?
It is a requirement from the Federal Government and also the State of Texas for employers to openly display federal and state labor law posters in each employment facility. This ensures that the employees and applicants can view them. Failure to adhere to this regulation results in heavy fines amounting up to $17000 (As stated in, 29 USC Sec. 666(i) and 29 USC Sec. 2005).
What are the Texas Labor Law Posters?
As state labor law posters, Texas Labor Law Posters are for protecting the rights of the employees and they mainly include the following provisions:
(a) Texas Unemployment Compensation Act Poster
This poster must be posted in the event where your employees are entitled to file for unemployment benefits supplied by the state. It is freely available from the Texas Workforce Commission.
(b) Texas Workers’ Compensation Poster
This poster is necessary if the employer carries workers’ compensation insurance. With regard to this poster, employers should inform their employees whether or not the workers’ compensation insurance coverage is available by posting a written notice at their place of business. On the other hand, employers who deal with emergency medical service, firefighters, paramedics, correctional officers or law enforcement officers should inform them about work-related exposures and reportable communicable diseases to determine eligibility for worker’s compensation benefits.
(c) Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC) poster
Employers who take part in the compensation system for workers should post a notice of the (OIEC) program in the personnel office, in case the employer has a personnel office. It should also be posted in the workplace where each employee can see it on regular basis.
(d) U.S. Department of Labor – The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) poster
This organization protects the rights of those individuals who may leave their employment positions to join the military. It also prohibits the discrimination of members of the military or applicants to the military by the employers. With regard to this poster, each employer should provide employees with notice of rights under USERRA.
(e) U.S Department of Labor (DOL) – Wage and Hour Division
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)–Any employer must keep the employees updated with FLSA by posting it in a conspicuous place; it has many useful information for employees, such as the minimum wage provisions,
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) – Relying on an exemption, if the employer administers a polygraph test to any employee he should keep records stating what sets forth the testing. The records should have the information on when and where the testing is given and copies of the final reports.
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – This required FMLA-covered employers to post posters explaining FMLA’s provisions and providing information concerning the procedures for filing complaints of violations of FMLA with DOL’s wage and Hour Division. This should be posted in a conspicuous place where employees are employed.
• Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker protection Act (MSPA) – All employers and employees related to this act must place a poster prepared by DOL in a conspicuous place which explains the rights and protections for workers under MSPA.
(f) U.S Department of Labor – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Employers must post notices furnished by OSHA which inform employees of the protections and obligations provided by FLSA in a conspicuous place where each employee can view them regularly. Employees must also ensure that these notices are not altered, covered by other material or defaced.
(g) U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Employers covered by the nondiscrimination and also the Equal Employment Opportunity laws must post the Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law notice on their premises. The notice provides information regarding the laws and procedures for filling complaints of violations of nondiscrimination or EEO laws.
(h) Office of Attorney general of Texas (You have the Right Not to Remain Silent)
This comes from the ‘Whistleblower Act’ which ensure the employees’ right of reporting the employers’ wrong doings. It is the responsibility of the employers to let the employees know that they have the rights under this chapter by posting such a poster at the workplaces.
(i) Texas Department of State health Services
The Texas Hazard Communication Act demands that public employers should inform employees about the hazards of chemicals to which employees may get exposure in the workplace.
