Memphis Employer Posting Requirements (Tennessee)

Labor and Employment Tennessee 4 Minutes Read · published February 08, 2026 Flag of Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee employers must display and provide specific workplace notices from federal and state authorities so employees know their rights. This guide explains which posters and notices small businesses should post or give to workers, where to obtain official copies, how to provide multilingual or digital access when required, and how enforcement and appeals work in Memphis.

What Employers Must Post

Small employers should maintain up-to-date, legible posters in common work areas and give required written notices to employees at hire or when rights change. Required items commonly include federal posters and Tennessee state workplace notices.

  • Federal required posters (minimum wage, nondiscrimination, FMLA, USERRA, employee polygraph protections) — official DOL/EEOC/USERRA sources and downloadable posters are available online [1].
  • OSHA workplace safety and health poster for jobsite notice where OSHA covers the workplace [2].
  • Tennessee state-required posters (workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, child labor rules and other state workplace notices) — obtainable from the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development [3].
  • Workers' compensation notice and claims instructions where the employer is covered by Tennessee workers' compensation rules.
  • If you employ non-English speakers, consider posting translated notices or providing translated handouts where official translations exist.
Keep printed posters clean, visible, and grouped in a single common area.

How to Provide Notices to Workers

Post physical copies in a central location such as the break room, near time clocks, or other places employees commonly see. For remote or mobile workers, give notices at hiring and provide downloadable links or emailed PDFs; retain proof of delivery.

  • Post continuously during working hours and replace immediately when outdated.
  • Provide written notices at hire and after any employment-policy changes.
  • Keep a copy of the poster distribution record or an electronic acknowledgement from employees.
For remote hires, include required notices in the new-hire packet and retain a dated acknowledgement.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement of workplace posting requirements in Memphis may come from federal agencies (DOL, EEOC, OSHA) or Tennessee state agencies (Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development). Specific monetary penalties for failure to post are generally set by the enforcing agency; if an exact penalty amount is not listed on an agency page, this guide notes that the amount is not specified on the cited page.

  • Monetary fines: not specified on the cited page for general posting failures; specific statutes or regulations may set amounts per violation or per day [1].
  • Escalation: first, repeat, or continuing offences and ranges are not specified on the cited pages and depend on the enforcing agency's authority and case facts [2].
  • Non-monetary sanctions: enforcement can include orders to post, corrective notices, inspections, administrative citations, and referral to court.
  • Enforcer and complaint pathway: complaints about federal posting requirements go to the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division or OSHA as appropriate; Tennessee-specific posting issues may be handled by the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development. Use the official agency contact pages cited below to file complaints [1][2][3].
  • Appeals and review: appeal routes vary by agency; time limits for appeals are agency-specific and are not specified on the cited poster pages.
  • Common violations: missing posters, outdated posters (wrong year or law changes), posters placed where employees cannot reasonably read them, and failure to give required written notices to new hires.
When in doubt, obtain and post the latest official PDF from the issuing agency and keep records of posting.

Applications & Forms

There is typically no city application to post workplace notices; employers download official posters or order printed versions from the issuing agency. Federal agencies provide printable posters and PDF downloads. The Tennessee Department of Labor publishes state-required posters and instructions for employers [1][3].

Action Steps for Small Employers

  • Download current federal posters from the U.S. Department of Labor and EEOC sites and print legible copies for common areas [1].
  • Download Tennessee state posters from the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development and post together with federal posters [3].
  • Keep a dated record of when posters were posted or notices provided; retain employee acknowledgements if given electronically.
  • If you receive a citation or complaint, contact the issuing agency immediately to learn appeal deadlines and corrective steps.

FAQ

Which posters are mandatory for small businesses in Memphis?
The standard set includes federal posters (minimum wage, nondiscrimination, FMLA where applicable, OSHA safety) and Tennessee state posters (workers' compensation, unemployment); check the official agency pages for updates [1][2][3].
Do I need to post notices for remote employees?
Yes; provide required notices at hire in writing and make official poster PDFs available electronically, keeping proof of delivery or acknowledgement.
Who enforces posting requirements in Memphis?
Federal agencies (DOL, OSHA, EEOC) enforce federal posters; Tennessee Department of Labor enforces state posting rules. City code enforcement typically does not set federal/state poster requirements.

How-To

  1. Identify required posters: list federal and Tennessee posters that apply to your business.
  2. Download official PDFs from the issuing agencies and print clear copies for your workplace.
  3. Post copies in a common area and distribute required notices to new hires; collect acknowledgements where possible.
  4. Replace posters when laws change and keep a dated record of postings and notices given.
  5. If inspected or cited, follow the agency's corrective instructions and file an appeal within the agency's stated time limits.

Key Takeaways

  • Post federal and Tennessee state workplace notices in a visible common area.
  • Provide written notices to new hires and keep proof of delivery or acknowledgement.
  • Use official agency websites for current poster copies and contact agencies if you receive a citation.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] U.S. Department of Labor - Poster Requirements
  2. [2] OSHA - Job Safety and Health Poster
  3. [3] Tennessee Department of Labor - Employer Posters

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