One important responsibility of human resources professionals is to routinely review the employment law posters the workplace is required to display and ensure compliance. There are several posters all federal employers are required to display, and each state also has its own list of requirements.
Outlined below is an overview of some of the most important posters Virginia employers must display.
State Posters
Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Protection
This poster outlines the main points of the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Law and how it protects workers. All private and public employers are required to post it in 11” by 17” format or risk being fined.
The law aims to ensure the state’s employers provide healthy and safe working conditions, and employees and employers alike must comply with its standards. It also states that employers and employees are entitled to have authorized representatives accompany Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) inspectors when they conduct their checks.
Penalties for noncompliance are outlined and warn against retaliating against employees for raising health or safety concerns with their employers or reporting work-related illnesses or injuries.
Virginia Human Rights Act Reasonable Accommodations for Disability
One of the more recent additions to the required posters is the one outlining protections from discrimination for people with disabilities. The poster explains how employers having more than five employees are required to offer reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities if necessary to help them perform a particular job, with an exception being made in cases where such accommodations could cause an undue hardship for the employer.
This applies to any individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially impacts their ability to perform major life activities. When an employee requests a reasonable accommodation, an employer is not permitted to deny them employment or promotions, or take adverse actions against them. It also lists examples of reasonable accommodations, such as modifying work policies or work schedules and providing light duty assignments.
Workers’ Compensation Notice
Another required poster is the Virginia Workers Compensation Act notice. It lists the actions that must be taken in cases of work-related injuries or illnesses.
The top portion of the poster outlines the action steps employees should take, which include providing their employer written notice of the situation and submitting claims for compensation. It also explains how employees can apply for a hearing with the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission should they be unable to reach an agreement with their employer regarding compensation.
The bottom half of the poster lists those steps employers should take when employee accidents occur. These include providing employees with the names of potential physicians, reporting the injury to the Commission and determining the employee’s average weekly wage accurately.
Virginia Credit for Low-Income Individuals
This poster informs Virginia residents of the income tax credits offered to low-income working families and individuals. It lists a website where interested parties can determine their eligibility for the income tax credit, along with a hotline.
Virginia Employment Commission Notice to Workers
The Unemployment Compensation Act notice (VEC-B-29) explains how workers can apply for unemployment insurance benefits. It lists the eligibility requirements, which include being unemployed through no fault of the employee, being available for work and actively searching for it, reporting to the Virginia Employment Commission regularly, and meeting earning and other requirements. It must be posted by any employer that is subject to Virginia’s unemployment compensation laws.
Federal Posters
Here is a brief overview of the federal posters that many Virginia employers are required to display.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Every employer that employs individuals who are subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage provisions are required to display this notice that explains the act in a conspicuous place.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The FMLA poster WH-1420 outlines the Family Medical Leave Act and its enforcement provisions. For example, it explains that eligible employees can take as much as 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for the birth or adoption of a child, to care for a loved one with a qualifying serious health condition, and several other family-related types of leave. All employers that have 50 or more employees must display this poster and follow all of its provisions.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Employers that have 15 or more employees, along with government contractors and subcontractors regardless of their number of employees, must display the EEOC poster entitled “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal”. It lists general employment information and provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Schedule a Consultation With the HR Experts at Business Benefits Group (BBG)
To learn more about the labor laws your business must follow and ensure compliance, contact the human resources professionals at Business Benefits Group (BBG) to schedule a consultation today.