Poster Board Designs for Digital Labor Law Posters

Poster board designs for digital labor law posters (SwiftSDS guide)

If you’re searching for poster board designs for workplace compliance, you likely need two things at once: (1) a clean, readable poster layout employees will actually notice, and (2) a format that satisfies posting rules under federal, state, and local labor laws. This SwiftSDS guide focuses on practical design choices, poster card and board material options, and how to print on poster board so your required notices are visible, durable, and easy to update.

Why poster board design matters for labor law compliance

Labor law postings are not “nice-to-have” wall décor. Many required notices must be displayed where employees can readily see them—often in a break room, near time clocks, or in onboarding areas. Poor design choices (tiny type, low contrast, glare, cramped layouts) can create real risk: employees may miss key rights information, and your workplace may not meet the “conspicuous posting” standard commonly referenced across agencies.

A common federal example is the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division poster, Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). If you’re printing this notice, your design and print choices should preserve legibility and fidelity to the official content: see Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

For multi-jurisdiction employers, your “poster board design” is really a system: consistent sizes, consistent placement, and predictable update cycles. Start by confirming which notices apply using Federal (United States) Posting Requirements and then layering in state/local rules (for example California (CA) Posting Requirements or Illinois (IL) Posting Requirements).

Core poster board design principles (what HR teams should prioritize)

1) Readability first (type size, contrast, and hierarchy)

Design for “standing distance,” not desk distance.

Actionable guidelines:

Use a minimum 12–14 pt body text for posters intended to be read from 2–4 feet away; larger is better for high-traffic areas.
Maintain strong contrast (dark text on light background). Avoid gray-on-white.
Use clear headings: “Minimum Wage,” “Paid Sick Leave,” “Discrimination/EEO,” etc.
Don’t shrink official posters to fit a decorative layout—many compliance notices include dense text and must remain readable.

If you’re comparing formats and layouts, SwiftSDS has helpful visuals in Electronic poster examples.

2) Preserve official wording and required elements

Most required labor law notices must be posted as issued by the agency or contain required language. Design customization should not remove:

Agency name/logos (where included)
Required contact details
Posting dates/revision identifiers
Translated versions (where required)

For example, Massachusetts postings commonly include multiple separate notices such as:

Your poster board design should support these documents—not rewrite them.

3) Plan for updates (the overlooked design requirement)

Posters change. Minimum wage rates, enforcement contact info, and paid leave rules are frequently updated. Build your display so you can swap documents without redoing the whole board:

Use a modular grid (e.g., 2x3 or 3x3 poster slots)
Use labeled frames or sleeves (e.g., “Federal,” “State,” “Local,” “Safety”)
Leave a dedicated space for “New/Updated” postings

Choosing between poster board, poster card, and mounted prints

When people say “poster board,” they often mean a few different products. Here’s how to choose.

Poster board (foam board / rigid board)

Best for: fixed displays and high-visibility locations
Pros: rigid, professional, resists curling
Cons: harder to update; can scuff; may require reprint if one notice changes

Poster card (heavy cardstock)

Best for: low-cost updates and rotating postings
Pros: easy to print in-house; lightweight; good for short-term compliance updates
Cons: can curl or tear; less durable without lamination

Mounted prints with replaceable inserts

Best for: compliance walls that change regularly
Pros: easiest to maintain; replace one page at a time
Cons: slightly higher upfront setup cost

If you want a more design-forward approach while staying practical, see Custom wall posters for ideas that still support compliance needs.

Example of poster board layout for compliance (simple and effective)

Here’s an example of poster board organization that works well for most workplaces:

H3: “Compliance board” layout (recommended)

Top row (Federal): FLSA, OSHA (if applicable), EEOC (as applicable)
Middle row (State): wage/hour, unemployment insurance, paid leave/family leave
Bottom row (Local + Company): city/county notices, workers’ comp, internal reporting hotline

If your workforce spans multiple cities, add a “Location-specific” column and use your jurisdiction pages to confirm which postings apply—for example Duarte, Los Angeles County, CA Posting Requirements or Board Camp, Polk County, AR Posting Requirements.

Custom poster board printing: what to specify to your print shop

When ordering custom poster board printing, provide print specifications that protect legibility and reduce glare.

Use this checklist:

Size: 18" x 24" is common for visibility; 24" x 36" for large break rooms
Finish: matte or satin to reduce reflections from overhead lighting
Color: full color is fine, but don’t rely on color alone for meaning (accessibility)
Resolution: 300 DPI for print files (avoid screenshots)
Mounting: foam board or gatorboard for durability; consider corner protectors for high-traffic areas

If your display includes accessibility messaging, ensure your layout doesn’t diminish readability. You may also need to post disability-rights information depending on your workplace and programs; SwiftSDS maintains an accessibility-focused resource at ada poster.

How to print on poster board without losing compliance readability

If you’re printing internally, the goal is crisp text, correct scaling, and consistent formatting across posters.

Download the official notice from the issuing agency (or trusted source).
Avoid copying from random websites or retyping content. Start from authoritative PDFs like the DOL’s FLSA notice: Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Print at 100% scale (no “Fit to page” shrinking).
Shrinking is one of the most common reasons posters become unreadable.
Use a high-quality printer setting.
Choose “Best” quality, and ensure black text is printing sharply (no banding).
Mount or sleeve the print.
If using poster card, consider lamination or a wall sleeve. For rigid board, mount prints with removable adhesive so you can update individual postings.
Audit from standing distance.
After posting, stand where employees normally would and confirm headings and key sections are legible.

For businesses that want the polished look of marketing-style boards, remember that compliance content is not advertising. If you’re trying to blend compliance with internal communications, review SwiftSDS guidance on advertising posters to keep informational displays clear without confusing required notices.

Compliance reminders: placement, language access, and remote work

Placement: Many posting rules require a “conspicuous” location employees frequent (break rooms, near schedules/time clocks).
Language access: Some jurisdictions require translated posters when a threshold of employees speak another primary language. Don’t assume English-only is always sufficient.
Remote workers: If your workforce is remote or hybrid, you may need digital distribution in addition to physical posting depending on the notice and jurisdiction. Use a consistent “digital poster hub” approach, then confirm location requirements on the relevant jurisdiction pages (e.g., California (CA) Posting Requirements).

Also be cautious about solicitation scams: if you receive aggressive mailers implying you “must pay” for posters, review business posting department scam.

FAQ: poster board designs for labor law posters

What’s the best size for a labor law poster board?

For most break rooms, 18" x 24" is a practical minimum. If employees view postings from farther away or the room is large, 24" x 36" improves readability.

Can I redesign an official labor law notice to match my branding?

Usually, you should not rewrite or redesign the legal notice text. You can design the display system (frames, board layout, labels), but keep the official notice content intact and readable.

Are employers required to post job openings in California on a poster board?

Job posting obligations in California are typically about recruitment and compliance (e.g., pay transparency rules) rather than a “break room poster board.” For role-specific guidance, see are employers required to post job openings california.

If you’re building a unified compliance wall, consider standardizing your board layout across sites and then validating each location’s required notices using Federal (United States) Posting Requirements plus your state and city pages. This approach keeps your poster board designs consistent—while still meeting jurisdiction-specific labor law posting rules.