Employment NewsFlash, August 2011
Banish Bulletin Board Boredom
The neglected, over-papered company bulletin board lurking at the back of the lunchroom can easily be turned into a valuable company asset. It can reduce legal risks and improve employee morale. Regardless of whether your company’s bulletin board exists on corkboard or electronically, this transformation can be made in one day...for free.
Companies most often use bulletin boards for notices of employee rights required by federal, state and local laws. However, one-size-fits-all posters sold commercially may be outdated or impose unnecessary legal obligations by referencing inapplicable employment laws. You can download free posters and access a tutorial on which posting requirements apply to your specific business by clicking here to access the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workplace Posting website. Many states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, publish similar free resources.
Use the board as a morale booster. Post significant accomplishments of individual employees or the entire company and a monthly birthday list (year of birth and age omitted). Include motivational quotes.
Post the company’s anti-harassment policy, even if already provided to employees elsewhere.
If the bulletin board is used to notify employees of new or changed policies, mark those policies with a “posting date” and remind employees periodically to review the board for such changes.
Address safety topics. For example, post summaries of basic first aid techniques for choking and CPR and list those employees who have agreed to be identified as trained in CPR. Posters should be updated to include the new “compression-first” CPR guidelines published in 2010.
Remove all postings not related to company matters. For example, allowing an employee to post a notice about a social book club may expose the company to legal claims when other employees are prohibited from posting notices about religious organizations or union-organizing activities.
These simple updates can transform an often overlooked space into an effective tool for managing employee communication and complying with applicable law.
Stradley Ronon's Employment & Labor Practice Group counsels businesses on how to prevent employment-related problems before they arise. At the first sign of a problem, our clients receive practical, step-by-step advice on how to manage the situation. If a dispute erupts, our lawyers render advice at every stage — investigation, negotiation and, if necessary, litigation.
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