Workplace posters are important because they inform workers and employers of their rights and responsibilities. If you own a business or are an employer in Washington state then in addition to the federal posting requirements for your type of business, you’ll be looking to Washington State Department of Labor & Industries for the required state postings. The first thing you’ll need to find out to determine which labor notices you need to post is to determine if you pay your workers’ compensation premiums to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) or if you provide your own workers’ compensation coverage.

If you pay into L&I then you’ll be looking at “State Fund” posters for your business and there are three of them.

Your Rights as a Worker (F700-074-909)

The standard version of this comes in both English and Spanish and covers the various areas where Washington State law diverges from the federal laws coming out of Washington, DC. Most workers are entitled to a 30-minute meal period if they are working more than five hours. If they must remain on duty during this time, then they must be paid for those thirty minutes. The poster also presents the Paid Sick Leave (effective January 1, 2018), wherein most employees are eligible for one hour of sick leave for every 20 hours worked; and the Washington Family Care Act: Use of paid leave to care for sick family; and Washington Family Leave Act; and leave for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Job Safety and Health Law (F416-081-909)

The most important facets of this mandatory posting (Chapter 49.17 RCW) are right at the top. Namely that “All workers have the right to a safe and healthy workplace.” There are also two direct messages, one to employees to notify them that “Your employer must protect you from hazards you encounter on the job, tell you about them and provided training.” To employers: “You have a legal obligation to protect employees on the job.”

Notice to Employees – If a Job Injury Occurs (F242-191-909)

This mandatory workplace posting goes through that the employer is insured through the Department of Labor & Industries’ workers’ compensation program and that if you are injured on the job or develop an occupational disease, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. It then goes on to list the benefits and what employees should do should such a circumstance occur.