(November 6, 2008) An update to the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) workplace poster includes required changes, according to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

The changes required to be posted, approved in August, include new information on: sexual harassment, workers’ compensation rights and benefits, state disability insurance, paid family leave and unemployment insurance.

An employer could be fined up to $17,000 for failing to post 16 required notices in a conspicuous place in the workplace, where all employees and applicants can see them.

The law also requires employers to provide and distribute literature that informs employees of their rights and responsibilities regarding leaves of absence and unemployment benefits.

Required Notices Kit

The change will be part of the 2009 Required Notices Kit, available from CalBizCentral, presented by the California Chamber of Commerce. The Kit includes a 2009 California Employee Poster and 20 copies of all five required pamphlets.

The Required Notices Kit includes:

• the updated EEO poster;
• minimum wage (federal and state);
• USERRA military leave benefits;
• safety and health (Cal/OSHA) requirements;
• notice of workers’ compensation carrier; 
• time off to vote;
• emergency phone numbers;
• payday notice;
• discrimination and harassment (Department of Fair Employment and Housing);
• whistleblower protection;
• polygraph protection;
• family/medical leave and pregnancy leave (federal and state), including the Family Medical Leave Act amendment addendum; and
• unemployment insurance, disability insurance and paid family leave.

Laminated or non-laminated posters are available, with all materials in English or Spanish. If any of a company’s employees are Spanish-speaking, the employer must provide many of the required notices in Spanish.

More Information

More information on the Required Notices Kit is available at www.calbizcentral.com or by calling (800) 331-8877.

Staff Contact: Jessica Hawthorne