Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster in Jacksonville, Florida (2026)
Employees cannot exercise their rights and your restaurant risks significant fines and civil lawsuits if the federally-mandated Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster is not displayed in your Jacksonville workplace. Issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, this required notice informs eligible staff about their entitlement to job-protected, unpaid leave for specific family and medical reasons. Key facts:
- 10 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 8
- $0–$0 government filing fees
- Varies posting timeline (must be displayed immediately upon hire)
Analyzed from Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster
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Why You Need a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster is a federal workplace posting requirement enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act itself (29 U.S.C. § 2611 et seq.), all covered employers—including restaurants and bars in Jacksonville—must display this poster where employees can readily see it. The requirement is not issued by a local Jacksonville authority, but by the federal DOL. Florida law does not add an additional state-specific poster for this leave; however, other federal posters like those for the Davis-Bacon Act or Service Contract Act may also be required if you hold specific government contracts.
Failure to properly post the current, official FMLA notice can trigger DOL investigations and penalties, which apply uniformly in Florida. Practical consequences include:
- Civil Money Penalties: For willful or repeated violations of posting rules under the FLSA, the DOL can assess civil penalties. While not a direct fine for the FMLA poster alone, non-compliance is often cited during investigations into wage or leave violations, compounding penalties.
- Increased Liability in Disputes: If an employee files an FMLA complaint and the poster was not displayed, you lose a key defense. The DOL or a court may rule that the employee was not properly notified of their rights, potentially making you liable for back wages, reinstatement, or other remedies.
- Audit & Inspection Risk: Missing mandatory posters is a red flag that can prompt a broader DOL audit of your payroll, overtime, and child labor practices, leading to penalties for other violations discovered.
- Lease and Insurance Implications: Some commercial leases or business insurance policies require compliance with all federal employment laws. A documented violation could be grounds for a lease default or affect your premiums.
Legal code: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Davis-Bacon Act, Service Contract Act
Recent update: The DOL updated the mandatory FMLA poster effective June 27, 2024, to reflect technical changes; ensure you display this latest version, as using an outdated poster is a violation.
Who Needs a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required for any employer, including a restaurant, with 50 or more employees for at least 20 weeks in the current or preceding year, as mandated by 29 U.S.C. § 2618. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Subject to the same FMLA posting requirement if the bar or nightclub meets the 50-employee threshold for 20 weeks, per federal law 29 U.S.C. § 2618. |
| Food Truck | Not Required | Typically exempt unless the food truck operation is part of a larger organization (e.g., a franchise or group of trucks) that collectively employs 50+ people for 20 weeks. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required if the individual café or chain location employs 50 or more people for at least 20 weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, per 29 U.S.C. § 2618. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (10 Fields)
8 of 10 auto-filledTotal Number of Employees
numberEnter the total number of employees on your payroll, including full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers, regardless of location—this determines if your business is covered by the FMLA.
COMMON MISTAKE: Common mistakes include counting only the employees at one location when you have multiple sites, or omitting part-time staff, which can lead to an inaccurate eligibility assessment.
Understanding of FMLA Poster Requirement
booleanConfirm you understand that the FMLA poster is a mandatory federal notice for all covered employers (those with 50+ employees) to inform staff of their rights.
COMMON MISTAKE: Mistakenly believing the FMLA poster is optional for smaller businesses or not realizing it's required even if you don't currently have any employees on leave.
FMLA Poster Downloaded
booleanConfirm you have downloaded the official, current version of the FMLA poster from the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Wage and Hour Division website.
COMMON MISTAKE: Downloading an outdated poster or one from a non-official source, which may not contain the latest legal text required by the DOL.
Poster Acquisition Method
selectSelect how you obtained the poster, such as 'Downloaded from DOL.gov,' 'Received from a payroll provider,' or 'Purchased from a compliance service'—ensuring the source is reliable.
COMMON MISTAKE: Failing to verify the source's credibility or selecting an unofficial method, which risks displaying non-compliant information.
Poster Display Location
textDescribe exactly where the poster is displayed in your workplace (e.g., 'employee break room bulletin board,' 'kitchen notice area near time clock') to prove it's in a conspicuous place.
COMMON MISTAKE: Vague descriptions like 'in the office' or placing it in an area not frequented by all employees, such as a manager's private office, which violates the 'conspicuous place' rule.
Business Has Multiple Locations
booleanIndicate whether your business operates from more than one physical site, as the FMLA poster must be displayed at each location where you have 50+ employees within a 75-mile radius.
COMMON MISTAKE: Assuming the poster at a headquarters satisfies requirements for all satellite locations, which can lead to non-compliance citations at uninformed worksites.
Number of Business Locations
numberIf you have multiple locations, enter the total count of all your business sites to ensure you plan for poster displays at each required location.
COMMON MISTAKE: Under-counting locations, such as forgetting small satellite offices or food trucks, which could mean missing a display site and incurring penalties.
Poster Display Confirmed
booleanAttest that the FMLA poster is currently posted in the specified location(s) and is visible to all employees, completing the core compliance step.
COMMON MISTAKE: Confirming display without a physical verification, risking that the poster has been removed, damaged, or obscured since initial posting.
Poster Maintenance Plan
booleanConfirm you have a process to check the poster periodically for damage, wear, or removal to ensure it remains legible and in place.
COMMON MISTAKE: No maintenance plan, leading to faded, torn, or missing posters that fail to inform employees and can result in fines during a DOL inspection.
Monitoring for Poster Updates
booleanConfirm you monitor for updates from the DOL, as the FMLA poster text can change, and you must replace old versions with the current one promptly.
COMMON MISTAKE: Assuming the poster never changes and displaying an outdated version, which is a common violation cited by the DOL during audits.
Top 5 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster Mistakes
1. Displaying an Outdated Poster
Hanging the 2020 or older version of the 'Your Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act' poster from the U.S. Department of Labor. Federal law requires the most current version (effective 2026). Using an old poster fails to inform employees of their current rights and can result in fines from a DOL investigation. Verify you have the 2026 poster, identifiable by the 'WH-1420' form number at the bottom, before posting.
2. Incorrect Poster Placement
Posting it in a break room, manager's office, or other area not easily accessible to all employees and job applicants. The DOL mandates it be displayed in a conspicuous place where employees and applicants can readily see it. Common compliant locations include near time clocks, on a main employee bulletin board, or in a common hallway. Failure to post properly negates the legal requirement and leaves you vulnerable to penalties.
3. Forgetting to Post for All Covered Worksites
Only posting at your main restaurant location but not at a separate catering facility or secondary kitchen you operate. The FMLA posting requirement applies to each of your establishments if you have 50 or more employees within 75 miles. Missing a covered site is a common oversight that adds significant compliance risk. Audit all your physical locations to ensure a poster is displayed at each one.
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Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster by City in Florida
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | ||
| Miami | ||
| Tampa |
Timeline: Varies
Download or Order the Official Poster
Obtain the official "Employee Rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act" poster (Form WHD 1420) from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. You can download it as a PDF from their website (DOL.gov) at no cost or call 1-866-4-US-WAGE to request a printed copy by mail. Downloading it is immediate and is the most common method for restaurants. Ensure you get the latest version, which was updated in 2025.
Print and Prepare the Poster for Display
Print the downloaded PDF in color, at the required minimum size of 11x17 inches, on durable paper or cardstock. If you order a physical copy, this step is already done. You must ensure the poster is clear, legible, and untampered with. The law requires specific formatting and language, so do not modify the poster or try to create your own version, as this does not fulfill the legal obligation.
Post in a Conspicuous Location at Your Jacksonville Worksite
Place the poster in a prominent area where all employees and applicants can easily see it, such as an employee break room, near time clocks, or on a dedicated bulletin board. In Florida, posting must be at the principal worksite. If your restaurant has multiple locations in Jacksonville, each worksite likely needs its own poster. This is a physical action, not a submission to any agency, so there is no formal review period. Failure to post can trigger investigations if a complaint is filed.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Florida.
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 RequirementsThere is no application or processing time for obtaining the FMLA poster, as it is a federal notification requirement not issued by a local authority. You can download it immediately from the U.S. Department of Labor’s website or order a print copy. The timeline for compliance varies, as you must display it as soon as your restaurant qualifies as a covered employer—typically upon hiring your first employee.
The government filing fee for the FMLA poster is $0. You can download the official poster free of charge from the Wage and Hour Division website. If you purchase a commercial print copy, that is a private vendor cost—not a government fee. This is similar to other federal workplace notices, like the ADA Compliance Self-Certification, which also has no direct filing fee.
No, the FMLA poster itself is not "transferred" or reissued. It is a standard federal notice that must be displayed at each covered worksite. If you open a new restaurant location in Jacksonville, you must obtain and post a new copy at that site, just as you would need a separate City Business License/Registration for the new location. The poster’s content is identical nationwide.
You do not renew the FMLA poster. It is a perpetual notice requirement while you operate as a covered employer. However, you must ensure you are displaying the current version; the Department of Labor updates the poster when laws change. You should check for revisions annually, unlike periodic renewals required for local permits like an Alarm System Permit/Registration. Contact the DOL to confirm the poster is up-to-date.
During a federal or state labor inspection, the inspector will verify the FMLA poster is displayed prominently and conspicuously where employees can see it, such in a break room or common area. They will check it’s the current version and not defaced or altered. Failure to post can result in citations and fines under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Not legal advice—verify posting requirements with the U.S. Department of Labor.
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 Florida specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 10 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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