Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster in Worcester, Massachusetts (2026)
Without the current Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster displayed, your restaurant is exposed to employee complaints, potential audits, and civil penalties from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. This legally required workplace notice, also called the Paid Sick Leave Notice, must be posted visibly for all employees.
- 18 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 15
- $0–$0 government filing fees
- Varies timeline — poster must be displayed immediately
Analyzed from Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster
83% from one compliance interview
Manual entry or document upload required
Why You Need a Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster
The Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law, passed by voter referendum in 2014 and codified in M.G.L. c. 149, § 148C, mandates that all employers provide earned sick time to employees. A key compliance requirement is the mandatory display of the official Earned Sick Time Poster in a conspicuous location accessible to all employees. This notice, issued by the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, must be posted alongside other required workplace posters, such as those for minimum wage, overtime, and the Prevailing Wage Law. Failure to post the correct, current version is considered a violation of the law, as the poster outlines employees' rights to accrue and use sick time, the definition of a "covered family member," and protections against retaliation.
The consequences for non-compliance are enforced by the Attorney General's Office and can be severe, even in the absence of a formal employee complaint. Penalties can include:
- Civil Penalties: Fines can be levied per violation. For willful violations, penalties may be multiplied.
- Back Wages & Treble Damages: If an employee is denied sick time, the employer may be ordered to pay the employee for the time denied, and the damages can be tripled under the Wage Act (M.G.L. c. 149, § 150).
- Cease-and-Desist Orders: The Attorney General can issue orders to stop unlawful practices, which can disrupt business operations.
- Insurance & Lease Implications: A citation or lawsuit for wage theft can impact your business insurance premiums and may violate "good standing" clauses in commercial leases or loan agreements.
Legal code: State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
Recent update: The official poster is periodically updated by the Attorney General's office; the 2026 version reflects the current minimum wage rate and any clarifications to the law. Employers must ensure they display the most recent version.
Who Needs a Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required if you have 11 or more employees; if you have fewer, you must comply with the law's provisions but are not mandated to display this specific poster. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required if you have 11 or more employees; bars are not exempt from the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law. |
| Food Truck | Not Required | Typically exempt unless the truck operator employs 11 or more individuals across their entire business operation. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required if you have 11 or more employees; retail food establishments are covered under the law. |
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
booleanAnswer 'Yes' or 'No' to indicate if your business currently employs any individual who performs work in Massachusetts, which determines your legal obligation to post this notice.
COMMON MISTAKE: Incorrectly answering 'No' for managers or part-time staff who work remotely or travel into the state, which can trigger labor law violations.
Number of MA Employees
numberEnter the total number of individuals performing work for you in Massachusetts, including full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff, as of the date of your compliance check.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a corporate headcount from another state or omitting part-time employees, which misrepresents your workforce size to auditors.
Workplace Street Address
textEnter the street number and name (e.g., '123 Main Street') where your Massachusetts employees primarily report for work or where the poster will be displayed.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a P.O. Box, home address of an owner, or corporate headquarters address located outside Massachusetts, which fails to identify the covered worksite.
Workplace City
textEnter the Massachusetts city or town of the worksite address where your employees report, matching official postal designations (e.g., 'Worcester').
COMMON MISTAKE: Using informal neighborhood names or abbreviations, or entering a city from another state where you are incorporated.
Workplace State
textThis field should auto-fill as 'MA' or 'Massachusetts' for any covered worksite, confirming the jurisdiction of the Earned Sick Time law.
COMMON MISTAKE: Manually entering the state of business registration or corporate headquarters (e.g., 'DE'), which invalidates the posting requirement record.
Workplace ZIP Code
textEnter the full five-digit ZIP Code for the Massachusetts worksite address, which is used for jurisdictional verification by the Attorney General's office.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a ZIP+4 code without the base five digits or using a ZIP code from a mailing address that differs from the physical worksite.
Poster Downloaded
booleanConfirm you have successfully obtained the official 2026 'Earned Sick Time: Know Your Rights' notice PDF from the Massachusetts Attorney General's website.
COMMON MISTAKE: Answering 'Yes' after downloading an outdated version (e.g., 2022 or 2023) or a generic labor law poster from a third-party vendor, which lacks current required disclosures.
Download Date
dateEnter the date (MM/DD/YYYY) you downloaded the current 2026 version of the poster, which serves as a compliance timestamp in case of an audit.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering the date you printed the poster or a future date, rather than the actual download date from the state website.
Poster Version/Year
textEnter the official version year listed on the poster PDF, which must be '2026' for current compliance under the updated Massachusetts Earned Sick Time regulations.
COMMON MISTAKE: Manually entering '2025' or 'Current' instead of verifying the year printed on the downloaded document, risking display of non-compliant information.
Can Print Poster
booleanConfirm you have the capability to print the downloaded PDF poster on 8.5” x 11” paper in color or legible black-and-white for employee display.
COMMON MISTAKE: Answering 'Yes' without verifying printer connectivity or paper supply, delaying physical posting and creating an immediate compliance gap.
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 Version or Incorrect Poster
Posting the 2015 or 2019 version of the state model poster, which does not reflect current 2026 regulations or the specific Worcester enforcement contact information. The Worcester Division of Human Rights requires the most current poster, and using an old one can be cited as a violation during an inspection, resulting in a formal notice to correct and potential fines. Always download the official 'Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law' poster directly from the Massachusetts Attorney General's website and verify it includes the current year (2026) in the footer.
2. Posting in an Inaccessible or Non-Conspicuous Location
Placing the poster in a back office, break room only managers use, or another area not frequented by all employees. The law requires the poster be displayed in a conspicuous place accessible to all employees. If it's not easily visible where employees regularly gather (like near time clocks or in a main hallway), it fails the legal requirement. This mistake is the most common cause of compliance complaints and can trigger a Department of Labor Standards inquiry. Post it next to other required Massachusetts labor law posters in your main employee common area.
3. Failing to Post the Poster in All Required Languages
Only posting the English version when you have employees whose primary language is Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, or another language common in your workforce. The Massachusetts Attorney General's office provides official translated posters, and employers are strongly advised to post them if a significant portion of the workforce uses that language. Relying solely on English can lead to claims that employees were not properly informed of their rights, weakening your defense in a wage complaint. Download and post the relevant translated versions from the Attorney General's website alongside the English poster.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster
ApronPrep auto-fills 15 of 18 fields from one compliance interview.
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Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster by City in Massachusetts
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | ||
| Springfield | ||
| Worcester |
Timeline: Varies
Access the Official Poster from Mass.gov
Download the current Massachusetts Earned Sick Time notice from the official Massachusetts Attorney General's Office website. This is a one-page document titled "Massachusetts Earned Sick Time: Know Your Rights" and is the only poster you need. Ensure you have a printer capable of printing on 8.5" x 11" paper or larger. Downloading an outdated version from a third-party site is the most common compliance mistake.
Print and Post in a Conspicuous Location
Print the poster on standard or legal-sized paper. Post it in a location where employees can easily see it, such as a break room, near time clocks, or on a central employee bulletin board. You must post it alongside other required workplace notices (like wage and hour posters). Failing to post it in a prominent location accessible to all employees is the #1 reason for non-compliance complaints.
Provide a Copy to New Hires at Start of Employment
According to the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, you must provide a copy of this notice to each employee when they begin employment. You can include it in a new-hire packet or provide it electronically if all work is done on a computer. Keep a record of this distribution, as you may need to demonstrate compliance if an employee files a complaint.
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
Allergen Awareness Training Certificate
state
Annual Report Filing
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsThe processing timeline for the poster itself is immediate. It’s a form that must be completed and printed by the employer, not an application submitted to or processed by a government office. The requirement to post it is effective as soon as you have employees, so you should complete your Business Certificate (DBA Registration) and have your poster ready concurrently.
The government filing fee for the official Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster is $0. There is no state or city fee to download and post the required notice. This is separate from other required operational permits in Worcester, such as obtaining a Business License / Business Certificate, which may have associated fees.
No, a new poster specific to the new location is required if you move your business. The poster must be displayed at each worksite, and the information on it (like the business name and address) must be accurate. When you update your location, you must download and post a fresh notice, just as you would need to renew location-specific permits like an Alarm System Permit/Registration.
You do not renew the poster on a periodic schedule. You must replace your posted notice whenever the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office issues an updated version, which can happen if the law or regulations change. Contact the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division or check their website to confirm you have the current version posted.
There is no specific 'inspection' for the poster alone. Compliance is typically checked during broader wage and hour investigations by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office. An investigator will verify the poster is the current version issued by the state, is displayed prominently where employees can easily see it, and contains all required information about sick time accrual and usage rights.
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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