By: Shelbie Byers, Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP
Many federal employment laws require employers to post notices informing employees of their rights in areas of the workplace that are conspicuous and accessible to all employees, such as in a lunch or break room. One federal law requiring such a posting, is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The “EEO is the Law” poster informs employees about the federal equal opportunity laws, including Title VII, and explains how an employee or applicant can file a complaint if he or she believes they have been the victim of unlawful discrimination. A copy of the Title VII required posting in English can be found here: https://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf
Recently, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission increased the maximum penalty for employers that violate the Title VII posting requirement from $210 to $525 per violation, adding some teeth to the penalty. The increased penalty goes into effect July 2, 2016. Now would be a good time for employers to audit their required federal and state postings to employees to ensure they are all up-to-date and properly displayed.