Hawaii Labor Law Posters: Employer Compliance Guide

This guide explains Hawaii labor law poster requirements employers must follow to inform employees of their state and federal workplace rights.

This article covers which posters are mandatory, where to place them, language and size rules, penalties for non compliance, and practical steps to stay current.

1. Overview of Required Posters

Hawaii employers must display specific state and federal labor law notices in conspicuous workplace locations.

The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations provides a consolidated labor law poster that combines many state required notices into a single all in one document.

The DLIR poster includes Disability Compensation Law, Unemployment Insurance, Wage and Hour laws, Occupational Safety and Health, Employment Discrimination protections, Whistleblower protections, breastfeeding rights, and Plant Closing notices.

In addition to the state poster, employers must display federal notices such as the FLSA minimum wage poster, FMLA, EEOC nondiscrimination, OSHA safety, EPPA, and USERRA notices.

State Consolidated Poster Details

The DLIR all in one poster is available for download and can be printed as a full page or obtained section by section.

Using the official DLIR version ensures the content is accurate and meets Hawaii specific requirements.

Mandatory Federal Posters

Federal posters are available from the U.S. Department of Labor and other federal agencies.

Employers must ensure the federal posters are current and displayed alongside state notices.

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2. Where and How To Display Posters

Posters must be displayed in conspicuous places where employees and applicants can easily read them.

Typical locations include break rooms, lunchrooms, time clock areas, job application areas, and other common employee spaces.

If a business has multiple worksites or satellite locations, each site must have the full set of required posters.

Posters must be unobstructed, legible, and maintained in good condition so employees can read the information without difficulty.

3. Language, Size, and Format Requirements

If at least 5 percent of the workforce speaks a language other than English as their first language, employers must provide notices in that language.

This language rule helps ensure non English speaking employees receive the same protections and notice of rights.

Some notices include specific size or font recommendations to ensure readability.

As a best practice, print posters at the original size and avoid reducing the image or text when printing or laminating.

4. Industry Specific Posting Obligations

Certain industries have additional posting requirements beyond the standard state and federal notices.

For example, employers holding class 5 Dispenser or class 11 Cabaret liquor licenses must post a Human Trafficking notice in public view.

Hospitality roles such as Chef, Bartender, Host, and Event Planner often operate in licensed venues and should verify any sector specific posting obligations.

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5. Obtaining Posters and Keeping Them Current

Employers can download free, current posters from the Hawaii DLIR website and from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Commercial vendors also sell laminated, consolidated posters that combine state and federal notices for convenience.

Because laws change, employers should check official agency pages regularly or subscribe to update notifications to ensure posters remain current.

Replace posters immediately when agencies issue new versions to avoid posting violations from outdated information.

6. Compliance, Penalties, and Risk Management

Failure to display required notices can result in fines and civil penalties under Hawaii law.

Willful violations of notice and posting requirements may carry civil fines up to $100 for each separate offense.

Beyond fines, missing or outdated posters can weaken an employer's position during wage and hour, safety, or discrimination investigations.

Maintaining current posted notices is a simple compliance step that reduces legal risk and supports transparent employer employee relations.

7. Best Practices For Staying Compliant

Assign a compliance owner such as an HR manager or business owner to oversee poster maintenance and updates.

Create a master checklist listing required state and federal posters and the locations where each set is posted.

Perform quarterly inspections of posting areas and document the condition and date of each poster to show proactive maintenance.

Keep digital copies of official posters and the dates you downloaded or replaced them for audit readiness.

If your workforce includes non English speakers, document the steps taken to provide translated notices and the languages provided.

8. Quick Reference Table Of Posters And Sources

9. Additional Resources For Posters And Forms

• Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR)
• U.S. Department of Labor Posters
• Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH)
• Hawaii Employers Council
• University of Hawaii Office of Human Resources Notices

Hawaii Labor Law Posters: Conclusion

Displaying current state and federal labor law posters in conspicuous locations is a fundamental compliance obligation for Hawaii employers.

Assign responsibility, use official DLIR and federal downloads, update promptly when laws change, and document your efforts to minimize fines and improve workplace transparency.