2008 Iowa Labor Law Posters

December 13th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

It’s important that employers order their 2008 Iowa labor law posters soon. Both state and federal law require that the updated posters be displayed.

This is even more critical for Iowa employers, where the state’s minimum wage will increase on January 1, 2008 – making all existing labor law posters obsolete.

During 2007 many changes occurred to labor laws across the nation. As 2007 comes to an end, employers will need to update their labor law posters. Iowa employers are affected by these changes, and need to be aware of them.

Under state law, the officially required 2008 Iowa labor law posters are:

  • Minimum Wage Law
  • OSHA – Health and Safety Health Protection
  • Discrimination Notice
  • Unemployment Insurance
  • Workers’ Insurance

By law every Iowa employer is required to display these posters.

In addition, under federal law, employers must display these posters:

  • Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law
  • USERRA – Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
  • Federal Minimum Wage
  • Employee Polygraph Protection Act
  • Family and Medical Leave Act
  • OSHA-Job Safety & Health Protection

Both state and federal law require that every employer prominently display the posters in an area where they can be seen by every employee. Popular locations are a bulletin board, near the time clock or in the break room.

The most common reason for employers to update posters includes statute changes, especially to minimum wage laws. In just the past few months, employers in New Hampshire, Nevada and Maine have updated their labor law posters as the state minimum wages changed. The most recent increase was on October 1, 2007 when the New Hampshire minimum wage increased to $6.50 per hour.

A number of states across the country enacted an increase to their state minimum wage during 2007. Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah are among them.

Minimum wage wasn’t the only law that changed during 2007. Two states established new no-smoking bans. Illinois’s new law banned smoking in almost every work environment, including casinos, restaurants and bars. In Ohio, a tough new ban on smoking at work was also enacted. Businesses were then required to post new no-smoking signs at all entrances.

All of the changes that occurred during 2007, and those slated to occur in 2008 will require employers to update their labor law posters. If the posters are not updated, the employer could be fined.

A large number of changes over the year influenced the poster requirements. The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 increased the federal minimum wage for the first time in close to a decade. Seventy cents was added to $5.15 to raise the minimum to $5.85 per hour. A number of states that connect their minimum wages to the federal minimum raised their minimum wages on that day, too.

On July 24, 2008, the federal minimum wage will go up again time from $5.85 to $6.55 per hour. Again, the states that bump their minimum wage when the federal rate rises, will increase their minimum wage rates on that day.

More than a dozen states will increase their minimum wages on January 1, 2008. These include Delaware, Oregon, Washington, California, Florida, Iowa, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Vermont, Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, Montana and Ohio. The lowest rate to be increased is in Montana, where the state minimum wage will increase from $6.15 per hour to $6.25. In Missouri and New Mexico, the state rate will go to $6.50.

Every one of these changes to the minimum wage requires that employers update their labor law posters. Employers who fail to do so can face a variety of fines and penalties, from agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor, the EEOC and OSHA.

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Iowa Worker Safety Poster

June 4th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

Both employers and employees should be aware of how vital education is when it comes to Iowa worker safety. No employee wants to be injured on the job. No employer wants to have employees hurt. In many cases, workplace injuries result in missed time, lost wages, lawsuits, and medical bills. Even though both employers and employees may want to prevent accidents, injuries sustained at work certainly aren’t rare. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains that the U.S. Occupational and Heath Administration, also know as OSHA, is involved in millions of injury investigations around the country each year. The last full year for which statistics are available is 2005. In that year, a total of 4,214,200 accidents in the workplace occurred. Due to these accidents, workers lost a total of 1, 234,700 work days. Sadly, 5,702 employees died as a result of workplace accidents that year.

These numbers don’t tell the whole story since they only include accident information from the private sector. Figures for employees of non-profits organizations along with government employees, such as firefighters, police, and paramedics are not included.

Some of the injuries encountered include strains, sprains and tears, which affected 503,530 workers. Also workers experienced 270,890 back injuries, and 255,750 employees fell at their workplace.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as OSHA, tracks the Iowa worker safety figures, as well as those from around the nation. Although many people may not realize it, fatalities due to trips, falls, and slips in the workplace can result in death. Sadly, 732 people died in 2005 after experiencing a fall at their job. Only driving accidents involving employees resulted in more fatalities, with the total for 2005 being 1,258.

Iowa worker safety posters can help prevent accidents. One way employers can help reduce and prevent accidents is through employee education. To help with this effort, OSHA produces a Workplace Safety Pack that includes information on preventing injuries in the workplace. Employers will find the following items in the Workplace Safety Pack:

Slips, Trips, and Falls Poster
Workstation Safety Tips Poster
The Workplace Ergonomics 
Lifting Safely Poster

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Iowa Employer Training News

February 27th, 2007 Posted by Mark

Employers in Iowa should be aware of support networks out there set up and or supported by the Iowa Workforce Development regional networks, as well as the Employers’ Council of Iowa system across the state. These employers groups typically are out there to help employers deal with the issues surrounding their work force and the labor laws that govern how employers can act toward these workers.

The statewide Employers’ Council of Iowa and the Iowa Workforce Development groups sometimes hold educational and networking events where you can meet other employers and human resource folks, and where you can brainstorm with like minded folks about important employer issues such as worker safety, workers’ comp, and other pressing matters at your company.

To give an example, one such meeting that took place with the Iowa Lakes Employers’ Council, out of a little place in the state called Algona, was held for all employers, human resources members, and other important staff members in the area, a couple weeks back in the beginning of February.

The meeting was all about how to motivate your employees, whether they are young and bored or old and tired, and or anywhere in between. Part of the learning curve here was to learn how to transform the entire work environment into somewhere that inspires motivation and company loyalty, and as a way to inspire your employers to want to go the “extra mile” for you and your company.

This is heavy stuff, especially considering that recent study that came out just a couple days ago about how most employees in the country are more unmotivated and unsatisfied at their jobs than ever before. It is a stunning example of how big a task employers have to keep their best talent, as well as to avoid bored or disinterested employees from somehow damaging their companies, either through reducing the morale of their other employees or by hurting themselves on the job.

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State of Iowa (IA) Poster Compliance Requirements for Employers

September 11th, 2006 Posted by Lindsay

You’re probably already aware that the state of Iowa (IA) has several employment labor posters that are required to be placed in every business throughout the state. These are to be put in a visible location so that all employees have easy access to be able to view them. However, you may not realize the importance of the information that is on these posters.

The Iowa (IA) Employment Labor Posters help all employees by making them aware of their labor rights. Each poster corresponds to one type of labor law. The legal information that is on these posters include a statement of the law, the name of the agency that oversees that particular law, and contact information for the related agency. It tells the employee how to report violations. In some cases it assures them that they won’t be in trouble with their employer if they report a violation.

Every time an employment law is updated, the corresponding employment labor poster must be changed. It is the responsibility of the business to be sure that all their posters meet the state’s compliance requirements.

I looked over Iowa’s requirements and they have mandated that the following posters be displayed at all times in the workplace: Minimum Wage Law, OSHA – Health and Safety Health Protection, Discrimination Notice, Unemployment Insurance, and Workers’ Insurance.

Additionally, there are several Federal posting requirements. These include the following posters: USERRA – Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law, Federal Minimum Wage, Employee Polygraph Protection Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and OSHA-Job Safety & Health Protection.

All of these posters are required for a very positive reason, which is to assist and protect employed persons. By keeping them the Employment Labor Posters updated, the employer not only protects himself from citations, he also helps the employees know their labor rights.

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Iowa Labor Law Posters

September 5th, 2006 Posted by Jolie

If you are interested in learning a little bit about Iowa Labor Law Posters, then please keep reading! As you are probably aware, Iowa Labor Law Posters include all state and federal notices that are mandated to be posted by Iowa employers. The posters must be displayed in full view in areas where employees congregate, such as break rooms or lunch rooms. Iowa Labor Law Posters comprise all the posters on one poster, which is very handy.

Iowa Labor Law Posters change frequently, and to that end should be replaced when needed. It is the law that the posters displayed are current, and Iowa Labor Law Posters are often one of the first things checked during a state labor inspection.

So, what is the point of the posters? Well, they serve a really good purpose by allowing employees to be aware of their labor rights. All the legal information employees need to know regarding employment is posted right there on the Iowa Labor Law Posters. State notices include minimum wage, OSHA, discrimination, unemployment insurance, worker’s insurance, child labor, and anti-fraud protection.

The federal posters include the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), Equal Opportunity Employment, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and OSHA Job Safety and Health Protection.

I took a little bit of time to read over the Iowa Labor Law Posters and wanted to share some details regarding the Anti-Fraud Protection notice. This law stipulates that rewards of up to $25,000 may be paid to persons providing information to the Department of Insurance leading to the arrest and conviction of persons committing insurance fraud.

Anyway, hope you find this information on Iowa Labor Law Posters helpful. I’ll be sure to keep you updated if I hear of any changes.

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