Employee Rights under Federal Labor Laws

The FAR councils published a final rule that implements Executive Order (EO) 13496, Notification of Employee Rights Under Federal Laws. The EO requires contractors to display a notice for employees of their rights under Federal labor laws. The Department of Labor determined that the notice must also include employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NRLA). The NRLA encourages collective bargaining and protects the exercise by employees of their freedom to associate, to self organize and to designate representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment.

The physical posting of the notice must be in conspicuous places in and about the plants and offices of contractors and subcontracts, in the languages employees speak, so that the notice is prominent and readily seen by employees who are covered by the National Labor Relations Act and engage in the activities related to the performance of the contract. Contractor's who use a website to communicate with employees are also encouraged (perhaps required, depending on how you interpret the regulations) to post notices there as well.

Posters may be downloaded from the Department of Labor's website. They are available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Hmong, Laotian, and Vietnamese. Contractors are not required to use the DOL posters. They can create their own if they choose.