Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster in Warren, Michigan (2026)
Your restaurant can face a federal penalty up to $25,218 per violation of the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) for failing to display the required workplace notice. This Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster, a mandatory federal employment law notice, must be posted in Warren, Michigan, as issued by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. Also known as the “Federal Polygraph Protection Notice,” it includes 12 fields of business information — ApronPrep auto-fills 10 from your profile. Key facts:
- 12 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 10
- $0–$0 government filing fees
- Varies processing time
Most applicants complete this in under 15 minutes with ApronPrep, which auto-fills 10 of 12 fields.
Analyzed from Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster
83% from one compliance interview
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Why You Need a Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster
The Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster is a mandatory federal workplace notice required under the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (29 U.S.C. §§ 2001–2009). While the EPPA itself is a federal law, it is enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). In Michigan, including Warren, the requirement to post this notice is enforced as part of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) compliance. The poster must be displayed in a conspicuous place where all employees and applicants can readily see it, typically alongside other required postings like the FLSA minimum wage poster and the FMLA notice. The DOL specifies the exact content and format for this poster, which informs employees of their rights regarding lie detector tests.
Failing to properly display the current, official version of the EPPA poster can trigger significant penalties. Consequences are enforced by the DOL's Wage and Hour Division and can include:
- Civil money penalties for willful violations of posting requirements.
- Increased legal exposure if an employee files a complaint, as non-compliance can be used as evidence of a broader disregard for labor laws.
- Potential complications during a DOL audit or investigation, which can lead to scrutiny of other wage and hour practices, such as overtime, recordkeeping, and child labor laws (which carry penalties up to $2,374 per violation).
- While not a direct fine for the missing poster alone, non-compliance can contribute to findings of willful FLSA violations, where civil penalties can exceed $1,000 per instance.
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 periodically reviews and updates the language on required posters; the EPPA poster itself has not had a major content revision recently, but employers must always display the most current version issued by the DOL.
Who Needs a Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required, as the federal EPPA Poster is mandated for all private employers engaged in interstate commerce with one or more employees. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required, as establishments serving alcohol are not exempt from federal EPPA posting requirements for private employers. |
| Food Truck | Required | Required, as mobile food service operations are considered employers under the federal EPPA if they have employees. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required, as retail food service establishments with employees must display the federal EPPA Poster per the Department of Labor. |
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 hire, manage, or pay any individuals for work performed at your restaurant in Warren, MI, including full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when you have any employees, as the EPPA poster is a mandatory federal workplace notice for businesses with one or more employees.
Number of Employees
numberEnter the total number of individuals you currently employ at your Warren location, including all hourly and salaried staff.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering an incorrect count or omitting part-time staff, which can lead to non-compliance for failing to display the required number of posters for your workforce size.
Primary Workplace Address
addressEnter the complete street address of your restaurant in Warren, MI where the poster must be physically displayed.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a PO Box, a home office address, or an incomplete address, as the poster must be displayed at the actual physical workplace location accessible to all employees.
Has Multiple Work Locations
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you operate the restaurant from more than one physical address in Warren or the surrounding area (e.g., separate kitchen, office, or satellite location).
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when you have multiple locations, which can result in fines for failing to display the poster at every worksite where employees report.
Poster Display Location Description
textDescribe the specific, conspicuous place where the EPPA poster is or will be posted (e.g., 'employee break room bulletin board' or 'next to the time clock').
COMMON MISTAKE: Vague descriptions like 'in the back' or failure to specify a location that is accessible to all employees in a common area, which does not meet U.S. Department of Labor visibility requirements.
Currently Has EPPA Poster Displayed
booleanSelect 'Yes' if the official U.S. Department of Labor EPPA poster is currently displayed at your Warren workplace; select 'No' if you need to order or download it.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' when displaying an outdated, damaged, or unofficial version of the poster, which is a common violation during DOL inspections.
Current Poster Is Official DOL Version
booleanConfirm that any displayed poster is the current, official version from the U.S. Department of Labor, not an expired or third-party summary.
COMMON MISTAKE: Assuming an old poster is compliant; the DOL updates these notices, and displaying an outdated version can result in penalties.
Poster Download Date
dateEnter the date you downloaded or acquired the official EPPA poster from the DOL website or an authorized provider.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving blank or entering an incorrect date, which can complicate proving timely compliance if investigated.
Poster Display Date
dateEnter the date the EPPA poster was physically posted at your Warren workplace in the location described.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a future date or leaving blank, as the display date must be on or before the date of this compliance check.
Confirms Understanding of Display Requirements
booleanAcknowledge that you understand the poster must be displayed prominently where employees can readily see it, in a location free from obstructions.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' without verifying the actual poster placement meets DOL standards for visibility and accessibility.
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. Posting an Outdated Version
Hanging a poster from a previous year, which is often distributed by payroll services with generic compliance packets. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) updates the poster, and using an old version fails to meet the 'current notice' requirement under 29 CFR § 801.6. This can result in a compliance citation during a DOL Wage and Hour Division investigation. Always download the latest version directly from the DOL's EPPA Poster page before printing and posting.
2. Placing It In an Inaccessible Location
Posting the notice in a back office, manager's office, or break room where employees do not frequently gather. The law requires the poster be placed in a conspicuous location where it can be readily seen by employees and applicants for employment (29 CFR § 801.6). In Warren, inspectors will check for visibility from common employee areas. Place it alongside other federal labor law posters (like the FLSA and OSHA posters) in a high-traffic area like the timeclock wall or near employee lockers.
3. Failing to Obtain Proof of Posting
Simply hanging the poster without documenting the action. If the DOL initiates an investigation, you must prove you were in compliance at the time of the alleged violation. Not having a dated photograph of the posted notice weakens your defense. After posting, take a clear, time-stamped photo showing the poster in its location, and save it with your business records. This simple step provides concrete evidence of compliance.
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Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster by City in Michigan
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit | ||
| Grand Rapids | ||
| Warren |
Timeline: 15 Minutes (Acquisition & Posting)
Download the Official Federal Poster
Visit the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division website to download the current Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) poster. The poster is free and available in multiple languages. You must obtain the federal version; state-specific posters are not required for this law. Verify you have the 2026 or later edition, as outdated posters do not satisfy the legal posting requirement.
Print the Poster on Durable Paper
Print the downloaded EPPA poster on letter-size (8.5" x 11") paper. Use a standard office printer, but ensure the text is legible and the print quality is good. While not mandated, using slightly heavier paper stock (like 32 lb. or cardstock) can prevent tearing and make the posting more durable in a busy restaurant environment.
Post in a Conspicuous Location
Physically post the printed EPPA poster in a prominent area where employees can readily see it, such as an employee break room, near time clocks, or on a central bulletin board dedicated to employment notices. Federal law requires it to be posted alongside other mandatory federal workplace posters (like the FLSA and OSHA posters). Do not place it in an office that is not regularly accessed by all staff.
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 time is not applicable because the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) poster is a federal notice you are required to display, not an item you apply for or receive from a government office. You must obtain the official poster from the U.S. Department of Labor website and post it immediately to maintain compliance. For registrations with actual government timelines, such as obtaining your City Business License/Registration, processing varies.
The official poster itself carries a government filing fee of $0. You can download and print the required notice from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division website at no cost. Not legal advice — verify poster requirements with the DOL.
No, the poster itself does not get 'transferred.' The legal requirement is to display the notice wherever you have covered employees. If you move your business, you must ensure a current EPPA poster is posted at the new location. This is distinct from location-specific permits like a Certificate of Occupancy which must be reissued for the new premises.
You do not renew the poster on a set schedule. You must check the U.S. Department of Labor website periodically for updated versions, as the poster content is revised when underlying regulations change. You are obligated to display the most current version, so replacing outdated posters is your responsibility. Contact the DOL to confirm the current poster edition is displayed.
A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigator will check for the poster's presence and its version date during a compliance audit or investigation. Failure to post the correct, current notice can result in citations and penalties under the EPPA. This is a separate compliance check from local inspections, such as those for a Building Permit final approval.
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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