A well-maintained company bulletin board can be an effective method for management to communicate new policies and procedures to employees and boost employee morale. Additionally, bulletin board postings may serve as valuable evidence in the event of a lawsuit or grievance. A neglected bulletin board, however, is a trap for the unwary and a tool that labor organizers may use to distribute messages contrary to management’s goals.

Federal and state poster kits

To ensure your workplace’s bulletin board is up to date and effective, remember the following:

1. Hang your bulletin board in a conspicuous location where employees regularly stop and visit, such as a break room or cafeteria.
2. Consider constructing your bulletin board with a sliding glass or Plexiglas door that can be locked to discourage employee tampering.
3. Make sure company documents that are posted on your bulletin board contain the preparation, posting, and effective dates.
4. Consider maintaining — near your bulletin board — binders containing personnel policies, an employee handbook, product labels, material safety data sheets, and work safety plans.
5. Consider a suggestion box near your bulletin board. A suggestion box allows employees to anonymously offer suggestions and constructive criticism without fear of reprisal.
6. Maintain postings required under state and federal law, including postings addressing child labor laws, equal employment opportunity laws, occupational safety, unemployment insurance benefits, wage discrimination based on sex, wage and hour laws, disability and military discrimination, family and medical leave, employee polygraph protection, and labor relations (among other things).
7. Post your company’s harassment policies, grievance procedure, and emergency evacuation procedures on the bulletin board.
8. Restrict employee postings to work-related items. Doing so should prevent any discriminatory or offensive items from being posted.
9. Strictly follow written bulletin board policies. Failure to do so means you sacrifice their evidentiary value and credibility in subsequent litigation or grievances.
10. Use your bulletin board! Job listings, recognition of employee accomplishments, and notice of changes in company policies should all be included in the mix of information communicated to employees through your bulletin board.