Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster in Grand Rapids, Michigan (2026)
Your restaurant can face fines up to $24,441 per violation if you don't display the official Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster. This federal workplace rights notice, also called a lie detector law poster, must be posted by nearly all private employers under the authority of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. There is no government filing fee, and while processing time varies, the poster must be visible upon hiring employees. Most applicants complete this in under 15 minutes with ApronPrep, which auto-fills 10 of 12 fields.
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Why You Need a Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster
The Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster is a federal workplace posting requirement enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for all covered employers, including restaurants in Grand Rapids. While Michigan has no additional state-specific poster law for the EPPA, federal law (29 U.S.C. §§ 2001-2009) strictly prohibits most private-sector employers from using lie detector tests for pre-employment screening or during employment. The poster informs employees of their rights under this Act. In Grand Rapids, you are also legally required to display several other federal and state labor law posters alongside the EPPA notice, as mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) for state-specific notices like minimum wage and paid sick leave.
Failing to display the required EPPA and other labor law posters does not trigger a fine under the EPPA itself, but it is a violation of other enforced posting laws like the FLSA and FMLA. The practical consequences are significant and enforced through DOL investigations, which can be triggered by employee complaints or routine audits. Key penalties include:
- Civil money penalties for willful or repeated violations of posting requirements under laws like the FLSA and FMLA, which can exceed $1,000 per violation.
- Increased liability in wage disputes where lack of proper postings can be used as evidence of a willful violation, potentially doubling owed back wages as liquidated damages.
- Cease-and-desist orders and mandatory compliance actions from the DOL, which can freeze business operations during an investigation.
- Complications with lenders and insurers who may require proof of labor law compliance for loan approvals or policy renewals.
Legal code: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Davis-Bacon Act, Service Contract Act
Recent update: As of 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor has updated the civil penalty amounts for certain violations, but the EPPA poster itself has not changed; always verify you have the most current version of all required federal and Michigan labor law postings.
Who Needs a Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required for all private sector employers in Michigan, per the federal Employee Polygraph Protection Act, which mandates the poster for any business with employees. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required. Bars and nightclubs are employers under the EPPA and must display the poster informing staff of their rights regarding polygraph testing. |
| Food Truck | Required | Required. Mobile food service operations with employees are covered by the federal EPPA and must comply with the poster requirement. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required. Any café with one or more employees falls under the Act's coverage and must post the notice in a conspicuous place. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (12 Fields)
10 of 12 auto-filledBusiness Has Employees
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you have any non-owner employees who perform work for compensation; select 'No' if you are a sole proprietor or partnership with no paid staff.
COMMON MISTAKE: Confusing contractors or unpaid family members with 'employees'; selecting 'No' when you have even one part-time employee, which triggers the requirement.
Number of Employees
numberEnter the total count of all paid employees, including full-time, part-time, and temporary workers, at the time of filing.
COMMON MISTAKE: Including owners or independent contractors in the count, or providing a rounded estimate instead of the exact current number.
Primary Workplace Address
addressProvide the complete street address where your employees primarily report to work and where the poster must be displayed.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a PO Box, home office address, or corporate mailing address instead of the physical work location.
Has Multiple Work Locations
booleanSelect 'Yes' if employees routinely work at more than one distinct physical address (e.g., separate kitchens, satellite offices); 'No' for a single, centralized workplace.
COMMON MISTAKE: Failing to declare multiple locations, which can lead to an incomplete compliance record and penalties for unposted sites.
Poster Display Location Description
textDescribe the specific, conspicuous place where the poster is/will be hung (e.g., 'next to the timeclock in the main kitchen', 'in the employee break room').
COMMON MISTAKE: Using vague descriptions like 'in the office' or failing to note if the location is accessible to all employees.
Currently Has EPPA Poster Displayed
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you already have any version of the EPPA poster physically posted at your workplace; 'No' if you need to acquire and display one.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' based on having downloaded the file, without the poster being actually displayed in the workplace.
Current Poster Is Official DOL Version
booleanSelect 'Yes' only if your displayed poster is the exact, current version from the U.S. Department of Labor's website; 'No' for outdated or third-party versions.
COMMON MISTAKE: Assuming any 'polygraph' poster is compliant, without verifying it's the official DOL publication dated 2026 or later.
Poster Download Date
dateEnter the date you obtained the official poster file from the DOL website, in MM/DD/YYYY format.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using the date you printed or ordered a poster, which may differ from the date you downloaded the official PDF.
Poster Display Date
dateEnter the date the official poster was first physically posted in the workplace, in MM/DD/YYYY format.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a future planned date, or the same date as download, if display happened later.
Confirms Understanding of Display Requirements
booleanSelect 'Yes' to affirm you understand the poster must be displayed continuously in a conspicuous place accessible to all employees.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' without reviewing the DOL's display rules, leading to non-compliant placement (e.g., in a locked manager's office).
ApronPrep auto-fills 10 of 12 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster Mistakes
1. Displaying an Outdated or Modified Version of the Poster
Posting the 2024 or earlier version of the federal EPPA poster, or a version where the 'Where to Obtain Poster' information has been altered or covered, is a direct violation of DOL rules. The 2026 poster contains updated contact information for the Wage and Hour Division. Displaying an incorrect poster can trigger a compliance investigation, resulting in fines and mandatory corrective action. Always download the current 'Employee Polygraph Protection Act' poster directly from the U.S. Department of Labor's website to ensure it's unaltered and includes the correct year.
2. Failing to Display the Poster in a Conspicuous Location
Tucking the poster in a break room behind other notices, in a manager's office, or in any location not frequented by all employees and applicants. The law requires it to be posted where it can be readily seen by employees and applicants for employment. An investigator finding the poster in an inaccessible location is treated the same as not having a poster at all, leading to citations. The poster must be displayed alongside other required federal labor law posters (like the FLSA and OSHA notices) in a common area like a main hallway, near time clocks, or in the employee entrance.
3. Assuming Michigan-Specific Posters Replace the Federal EPPA Poster
Relying solely on an all-in-one Michigan labor law poster service or a state-specific poster and believing it satisfies the federal EPPA requirement. While Michigan may have its own labor posters, the EPPA is a federal law enforced by the U.S. DOL. The federal poster is mandatory and separate. Using only a state compilation that lacks the official, unaltered federal EPPA poster is non-compliant and a common oversight for new restaurant owners consolidating paperwork. You must display the specific federal poster issued by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster by City in Michigan
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit | ||
| Grand Rapids | ||
| Warren |
Timeline: Varies
Determine Applicability & Download the Poster
Confirm your restaurant must display the EPPA Poster by reviewing the Department of Labor's rules — all private employers are generally covered. Download the free, official 2026 version of the "Employee Polygraph Protection Act" poster directly from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division website (DOL.gov). Ensure you have the most current version; using an outdated poster is a common, albeit minor, compliance oversight.
Print the Poster
Print the downloaded PDF on durable, letter-sized (8.5" x 11") paper. Use a color printer if possible, as the official poster includes a blue Department of Labor header, but black and white is legally acceptable. Ensure the print is legible. Many owners trip up by printing it too small or on flimsy paper that tears easily. You will need standard printer access and paper.
Post in a Conspicuous Location
Display the poster in a prominent area where employees can easily see it, such as a break room, near time clocks, or alongside other required labor law posters (like the Michigan Minimum Wage poster). The location must be accessible to all employees. Failure to post is the primary enforcement risk, though fines are typically assessed only after a complaint or investigation. You will need a posting location and supplies like tape or a frame.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Michigan.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Annual Report Filing
state
Application for Employer Identification Number
federal
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsProcessing is immediate — there is no formal application or approval process. You are simply required to download the official poster from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) website and post it. The timeline 'Varies' in the data reflects that your only delay is the time it takes to print and display the poster.
There are no government filing fees for this federal labor poster. The U.S. Department of Labor provides the poster for free download. Not legal advice — verify with the DOL to confirm there are no printing or material costs for your business.
Yes. The EPPA poster is a federal notice requirement that applies to each covered workplace. If you move your business, you must post it at the new location. It is not a location-specific permit like a Certificate of Occupancy, which must be obtained for the specific new address.
There is no formal renewal. You must ensure the poster is displayed at all times where employees can see it. You should check the DOL website periodically for updated poster versions, similar to how you manage other recurring federal notices like your E-Verify Enrollment compliance.
A DOL Wage and Hour Division investigator will check for the poster's presence in a conspicuous place during a routine compliance audit. There is no specific 'inspection' solely for the poster; it is verified as part of a broader review of federal labor law postings. Failure to post it can result in citations during such an audit.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Michigan specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 12 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Davis-Bacon Act, Service Contract Act
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