Tennessee Workers' Compensation Poster in Nashville, Tennessee (2026)
Without posting the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Poster in a visible location, your restaurant faces labor department citations and fines — even if you carry workers' comp coverage. Issued by the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development, this poster (also called the workers' comp notice or compliance poster) must be displayed where all employees can see it. There's no government filing fee. The form itself contains 4 fields, and ApronPrep auto-fills 3 of them. Most applicants complete this requirement in under 15 minutes with ApronPrep.
Analyzed from Tennessee Workers' Compensation Poster
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Why You Need a Tennessee Workers' Compensation Poster
The Tennessee Workers' Compensation Poster is a mandatory workplace posting requirement under Tennessee Code Annotated § 50-6-415, enforced by the Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Any employer subject to the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Law — which covers most businesses with five or more employees, and one or more employees in the construction industry — must display this poster in a conspicuous location accessible to all employees at the Nashville worksite. The poster notifies workers of their rights to medical care and wage replacement benefits if injured on the job, identifies the employer's workers' compensation insurance carrier, and provides the Bureau's contact information for filing complaints. Failure to post is not a technicality; state inspectors and plaintiffs' attorneys treat missing or outdated posters as evidence of willful noncompliance.
Operating a Nashville restaurant without the current, properly displayed poster exposes you to a cascading set of consequences that can disrupt your business well beyond a single fine. The Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation conducts audits and responds to employee complaints, and documented noncompliance creates liability in injury litigation. Consequences include:
- Civil penalties assessed by the Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation for each violation period the poster is missing or outdated — contact the Bureau to confirm current penalty amounts, as they are subject to administrative revision
- Increased litigation exposure — a missing poster can be used by an injured employee's attorney to argue the employer failed to provide legally required notice, potentially undermining your defense in a workers' compensation dispute
- Insurance and lease complications — commercial general liability insurers and some commercial landlords require documented compliance with all state posting mandates as a condition of coverage or occupancy; a lapse can trigger a policy review or lease default notice
- Stop-work orders — in egregious or repeat cases, the Bureau may seek a stop-work order under T.C.A. § 50-6-405, halting operations until compliance is demonstrated
- Back-wage and benefit liability — in connected wage theft or benefit denial claims, noncompliance with posting requirements can support treble damages findings under applicable state law
Not legal advice — verify current penalty schedules and posting specifications directly with the Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation.
Legal code: State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
Recent update: As of 2026, the Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation updated its required poster format to reflect revised claims-filing contact information and electronic reporting procedures — employers displaying posters printed before the 2025 revision cycle should confirm they have the current version by checking the Bureau's official poster download page.
Who Needs a Tennessee Workers' Compensation Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Tennessee Code Annotated § 50-6-415 requires any employer with 5 or more employees to post the Workers' Compensation Notice — full-service restaurants routinely meet this threshold given front- and back-of-house staffing. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Bars and nightclubs employing 5 or more workers — including bartenders, security staff, and cocktail servers — are covered employers under T.C.A. § 50-6-415 and must display the poster at each work site. |
| Food Truck | Not Required | Food trucks that operate as sole proprietorships or with fewer than 5 total employees are exempt from Tennessee's Workers' Compensation posting requirement under T.C.A. § 50-6-106(5)(A); operators who do reach the 5-employee threshold must post the notice inside the vehicle or at their primary operating location. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Coffee shops with 5 or more employees — a common staffing level even for single-location cafés — are covered employers under T.C.A. § 50-6-415 and must post the Workers' Compensation Notice in a conspicuous workplace location. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (4 Fields)
3 of 4 auto-filledPrimary Representative Name and Title
textEnter the full legal name and official job title of the person employees should contact to report a workplace injury — for example, 'Jane Smith, Human Resources Manager' or 'Carlos Reyes, General Manager'.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering only a first name or only a job title (e.g., 'Jane' or 'The Manager') instead of the full name plus title, which leaves employees without enough information to identify the correct contact and can constitute a non-compliant posting under Tennessee Code Annotated § 50-6-405.
Alternative Representative Name and Title
textEnter the full name and title of a backup contact — typically a shift supervisor, office manager, or co-owner — who can receive injury reports when the primary representative is unavailable; for example, 'Marcus Webb, Assistant Manager'.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving this field blank or repeating the primary representative's information, which fails to provide employees a meaningful alternative contact and may flag the poster as incomplete during a Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation compliance inspection.
Employer Representative Phone Number
textEnter the direct business phone number — including area code — where the primary representative can be reached during operating hours; use the format (615) 555-0100 and avoid personal cell numbers that may change frequently.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a general restaurant landline that goes to voicemail during busy shifts instead of a direct number for the named representative, which can delay required injury reporting and create liability exposure under T.C.A. § 50-6-201.
Employer Representative Address
textEnter the physical street address where the primary representative works and can receive written injury notices — this should be the restaurant's business address (e.g., '123 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37201'), not a P.O. Box or home address.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a corporate headquarters address or a P.O. Box instead of the actual Nashville location address, which can mislead injured employees about where to submit written injury reports and may invalidate the posting's compliance with T.C.A. § 50-6-405.
Top 5 Tennessee Workers' Compensation Poster Mistakes
1. Displaying an Outdated Version of the Poster
Based on ApronPrep's analysis of Tennessee Workers' Compensation Poster applications, the single most common mistake is posting a prior-year version that no longer reflects current Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation contact information or employee rights language. The Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation updates the required poster periodically, and displaying an outdated version is treated the same as non-posting — exposing you to penalties under Tennessee Code Annotated § 50-6-405. Always download the current version directly from the Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation website (tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work) before your initial posting and each calendar year.
2. Posting in a Location Employees Cannot Easily See
Tennessee law requires the poster to be displayed in a 'conspicuous place' where employees regularly work or gather — a back office, supply closet, or manager-only area does not satisfy this requirement. A Nashville restaurant that posts the notice behind a locked door or inside a binder risks a compliance citation even if the poster itself is current and complete. Place the poster in your primary employee break room, near the time clock, or in another high-traffic area where all staff — including part-time and kitchen workers — will encounter it during their normal workday.
3. Failing to List Your Actual Workers' Compensation Insurance Carrier
The Tennessee Workers' Compensation Poster requires you to identify your current insurance carrier and provide a contact number employees can use to report injuries — leaving this information blank or listing a former carrier is one of the most cited violations during Department of Labor audits. For example, if your policy recently renewed with a new carrier and you haven't updated the posted notice, an injured employee may contact the wrong insurer, delaying their claim and exposing your business to liability. Verify your carrier name and claims contact number against your current Certificate of Insurance every time your policy renews.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Tennessee Workers' Compensation Poster
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Tennessee Workers' Compensation Poster by City in Tennessee
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | ||
| Memphis | ||
| Nashville |
Timeline: Varies
Verify Your Workers' Compensation Coverage Status
Contact the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development or your workers' compensation insurance carrier to confirm your restaurant has active coverage. You'll need your policy number or business EIN. Restaurants without active coverage cannot legally display a poster and face penalties — confirm this step first to avoid wasted effort. Most carriers respond within 1 business day.
Download the Official Tennessee Workers' Compensation Poster
Obtain the current poster from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development website (tn.gov/labor) — the poster must be the 2026 version to be compliant. The poster is free to download as a PDF. Print a color copy on 8.5" × 11" or 11" × 17" paper; black-and-white copies are acceptable but less readable. Do not use altered or outdated versions — the state regularly updates poster language.
Post the Poster in Your Restaurant
Display the poster in a conspicuous location accessible to all employees — typically a break room, near the time clock, or on a bulletin board at employee eye level. The poster must be posted where employees routinely gather and cannot be obscured by other notices. Tennessee law requires the poster to be visible and legible; faded or partially hidden posters may fail an inspection. If your restaurant has multiple work areas or shifts, post copies in each location.
Where to Apply
Applications go to the Tennessee 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 Tennessee.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Alcohol Server Training Certification
state
Annual Report Filing
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsThe Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development does not charge a filing fee for workers' compensation posters, and the poster itself is available immediately upon download from the department's website — no approval or processing time required. You must display the poster at your restaurant before you hire your first employee. Contact the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development to confirm current posting requirements and deadlines for your specific operation.
There are no government filing fees for obtaining a Tennessee workers' compensation poster — the poster is provided free by the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development and available for download on their website. However, you may incur costs for printing and framing the poster for workplace display. Not legal advice — verify current fee structure and poster requirements with the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
A workers' compensation poster is a document that must be displayed at each location where you employ workers; it is not transferable between locations. If you open a second restaurant location, you must obtain and display a separate poster at that location. Additionally, ensure your City Business License/Registration is also updated for the new address, as posting requirements apply to all active business locations.
The Tennessee workers' compensation poster does not require renewal in the traditional sense — it remains valid for continuous display as long as your business operates. However, Tennessee updates poster language periodically to reflect changes in law; you should check the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development website annually (typically in January) to confirm you have the current version. Contact the department to confirm the current poster edition for 2026.
A workers' compensation poster itself is not subject to formal inspection by the state; however, Tennessee OSHA and the Department of Labor & Workforce Development may verify proper posting during workplace audits or complaint investigations. If you fail to display a current, legible poster where employees can easily see it, the department may issue a citation and require immediate corrective action. Ensure the poster is posted in a visible location accessible to all employees — typically near timeclocks or break areas. Not legal advice — contact the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development for specific posting location guidance.
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 Tennessee specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 4 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
- Nashville — Department of Labor / Labor Standards
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