Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster in Springfield, Massachusetts (2026)
Your Springfield restaurant opens itself up to employee complaints, audits, and state penalties the day you fail to post the legally required Massachusetts Earned Sick Time notice. This mandatory state labor law poster must be displayed by all Massachusetts employers, including restaurants in Springfield. Issued by the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, it’s also called the Paid Sick Leave notice. Most applicants complete this in under 15 minutes with ApronPrep, which auto-fills 15 of 18 fields.
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Why You Need a Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster
You are legally required to display the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster in a conspicuous location at your Springfield establishment. This mandate comes from state law, specifically the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law (M.G.L. c. 149, § 148C) and the general workplace poster requirements under M.G.L. c. 149, § 24. These statutes, enforced by the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, require all employers to notify employees of their rights to earn and use sick time. While the law is statewide, compliance is monitored at the local level in Springfield, and the poster itself integrates several required notices, including minimum wage and tip law information. Failure to post is considered a failure to notify employees of their statutory rights, which can trigger enforcement actions.
Not having this poster correctly displayed exposes your restaurant to significant financial and operational risks. Based on enforcement data from the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, common penalties for wage and hour violations, which include poster non-compliance, are:
- Civil penalties of up to $25,000 for willful violations of posting requirements.
- Liability for back wages and treble (triple) damages if an employee successfully claims they were denied a right because they weren't properly notified via the poster.
- A cease-and-desist order from the Attorney General, which can halt operations until compliance is verified.
- Complications with commercial leases and business insurance, as non-compliance with labor laws can be a breach of contract and elevate your business's risk profile.
Legal code: State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
Recent update: As of 2026, the official Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster has been updated to reflect the state's increased minimum wage of $17.50 per hour, and employers must display this current version.
Who Needs a Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required as all employers with 11 or more employees in Massachusetts must provide and post notice of earned sick time under M.G.L. c.149, § 148C. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required as the law applies to all employers with 11+ employees, regardless of industry, and these establishments have covered employees. |
| Food Truck | Required | Required if the food truck business, including its owners/operators, employs 11 or more individuals across its operations as per state law. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required as these establishments are employers subject to the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time law when they have 11 or more employees. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (18 Fields)
15 of 18 auto-filledHas Massachusetts Employees
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you have any employees performing work for you physically located in Massachusetts, including part-time, full-time, and seasonal workers; if you have no employees physically working in the state, select 'No' and this requirement does not apply to you.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when you have employees working remotely from Massachusetts, or selecting 'Yes' for a business entity with no active payroll or physical presence in the state.
Number of MA Employees
numberEnter the total number of individuals you employ who physically work in Massachusetts, counting all employees on your payroll, regardless of hours worked; use your peak count from the last pay period to ensure compliance.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a count of zero when you have one or more employees, or omitting part-time, temporary, or seasonal workers from the total.
Workplace Street Address
textEnter the street number and name of the primary physical location in Massachusetts where your employees report for work or from which they are managed, as it would appear on a postal mailing; do not use a P.O. Box.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a registered agent's address, a corporate headquarters in another state, or a home address if it is not the actual place of business where employees work.
Workplace City
textEnter the city or town where your Massachusetts workplace street address is located, as recognized by the United States Postal Service; ensure it matches the official municipality name.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a neighborhood name (e.g., 'Back Bay') instead of the official city ('Boston'), or abbreviating the city name inconsistently with the ZIP code.
Workplace State
textThis field will auto-populate as 'MA' or 'Massachusetts' for a Massachusetts workplace address; confirm it accurately reflects the state where your employees physically work.
COMMON MISTAKE: Manually overriding the auto-filled state to a different state if your business is incorporated elsewhere but has a physical worksite in Massachusetts.
Workplace ZIP Code
textEnter the full five or nine-digit ZIP code for your Massachusetts workplace street address; use the USPS ZIP code lookup tool if you are unsure of the correct code.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering the ZIP code for a mailing address or P.O. Box that differs from the physical location's ZIP code, or using an outdated ZIP code.
Poster Downloaded
booleanSelect 'Yes' after you have successfully saved the official 2026 Massachusetts Earned Sick Time poster PDF from the Massachusetts Attorney General's website to your computer; this confirms you have the required file.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' before actually downloading the file, or downloading an outdated poster version from a third-party site instead of the official state source.
Download Date
dateEnter the date (MM/DD/YYYY) when you downloaded the current 2026 version of the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time poster from the state's official website; this creates an audit trail for your compliance records.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a future date, the date you printed the poster instead of downloaded it, or leaving the field blank, which can complicate proof of timely compliance.
Poster Version/Year
textEnter '2026' or the specific version identifier (e.g., 'Revised January 2026') as listed on the official poster PDF you downloaded; this ensures you are tracking the legally mandated current version.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a previous year's version (e.g., '2023'), which is a common compliance failure, or leaving the field blank, which assumes you have an unverified poster.
Can Print Poster
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you have access to a printer capable of producing a legible, color or black-and-white, 11" x 17" or larger print of the downloaded PDF poster for workplace display; if not, you must arrange for professional printing.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' without verifying printer capability for the required poster size, leading to an unusable printout and non-compliance.
ApronPrep auto-fills 15 of 18 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster Mistakes
1. Using an Outdated or Non-Mandatory Template
The most common error is downloading a generic sample poster that omits Massachusetts-specific requirements. The Massachusetts Attorney General's office provides a mandatory template that includes a unique footer referencing the Fair Labor Division and mandatory notice elements. Using an unofficial template, even if it mentions sick time, can lead to a compliance violation because it often excludes legally required contact information and employee rights statements. This oversight can be flagged during a routine wage and hour inspection, resulting in a notice of non-compliance and a 30-day correction period.
2. Failing to Include All Required Contact Information
The official Massachusetts poster requires a contact phone number and website for employees to file complaints or ask questions. A frequent mistake is leaving this section blank or inserting a non-functional number. The poster must direct employees to the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division at (617) 727-3465 and mass.gov/ago/fairlabor. Omitting this or listing only a company HR number fails to satisfy the legal requirement for providing state enforcement contact info, which is a key element of the poster's purpose. This mistake is a direct violation of the poster regulations and can trigger penalties.
3. Posting in an Inaccessible Location
In Springfield, simply placing the poster in a back office or with other HR documents is insufficient. The law requires it to be posted in a conspicuous place accessible to all employees, such as a common break room, near time clocks, or in another area where employee notices are customarily posted. Burying it in an employee handbook or on a crowded bulletin board in a manager's office does not meet the 'conspicuous' standard. If employees cannot easily see the poster during the workday, the business is not in compliance, regardless of having the correct physical document.
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Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster by City in Massachusetts
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | ||
| Springfield | ||
| Worcester |
Timeline: Typically 1-2 business days
Download the Official Poster from Mass.gov
Go to the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General's website and download the latest "Earned Sick Time" workplace poster (Form ESP-01). Verify you have the 2026 version, as older posters do not comply with current regulations. Save the PDF file to your computer; you will need it for printing.
Print and Format the Poster for Display
Print the downloaded poster on standard letter-size paper (8.5" x 11"). Use a color printer if possible, as some sections may be highlighted. The poster must be printed at 100% scale—do not reduce its size. Ensure the text is clear and legible from a reasonable distance.
Post in a Conspicuous Employee Area
Display the printed poster in a location where all employees can easily see it, such as a common break room, near time clocks, or on an employee bulletin board. In Springfield, the Attorney General's office recommends posting it alongside other required notices like Minimum Wage and Paid Family Medical Leave posters. Laminate the poster or use a protective sleeve to prevent damage.
Where to Apply
Applications go to the Massachusetts department of labor. Local procedures and fees may vary — select your city below.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Massachusetts.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Alcoholic Beverages Local Retail License
local
Allergen Awareness Training Certificate
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsTiming varies because this is not a permit you "get" from the city—it's a mandatory workplace poster you must display. You must obtain the official poster from the Massachusetts Attorney General's office as soon as you hire your first employee. Processing time for receiving the physical poster by mail is typically 1–2 weeks, but you can download and print it immediately from the AG's website to comply immediately.
There is no government filing fee. The official poster is provided free of charge by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, per their published materials. You may incur minor costs for printing the downloaded version or for a durable frame, similar to requirements for other mandatory postings like the ADA Compliance Self-Certification.
No, the poster itself is not location-specific and does not need to be 'transferred.' The same state-mandated poster must be displayed at all your Massachusetts worksites where employees can see it. If you move your business, you simply take the existing poster or obtain a new copy and display it at the new address, unlike location-specific permits such as a Certificate of Occupancy.
You do not renew this poster. It is a one-time requirement upon hiring your first employee. You must replace the poster only if the Massachusetts Attorney General issues an updated version with new information, which they will announce on their website. This contrasts with annual filings like the Annual Report Filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
There is no scheduled 'inspection' for this poster. Compliance is typically verified during routine investigations by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office in response to an employee complaint. An investigator will visit your premises to check that the current, official poster is prominently displayed in a common area where employees can read it, similar to checks for other labor law postings. Not having it posted can trigger fines.
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 Massachusetts specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Boston, Springfield, Worcester), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 18 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
- State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
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