Your Rights Under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Poster in Portland, Oregon (2026)
Without the federally required USERRA notice posted, you risk significant penalties for non-compliance and legal claims from current or prospective employees. The Your Rights Under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Poster is a federal notice required for all employers, issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS). Also known as the military leave rights poster, it informs employees of their reemployment and benefit protection rights. There are 14 fields to confirm. There is no government filing fee for this poster — you must download and display it. Most applicants complete this in under 15 minutes with ApronPrep, which auto-fills 12 of 14 fields.
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Why You Need a Your Rights Under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Poster
As an Oregon employer, you are required by the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), 38 U.S.C. § 4301 et seq., to provide a notice of rights to all employees. This mandate is enforced in Portland by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). USERRA protects the civilian employment rights of veterans, service members, and applicants for uniformed service. The law requires that every employer covered by the Act display the official "Your Rights Under USERRA" poster in a conspicuous place where employees can readily see it. Non-compliance is a violation of federal law, and enforcement can be initiated through the U.S. Department of Labor or by a private civil action by an aggrieved employee.
Failing to display this poster may expose your business to significant financial and operational penalties. The practical consequences include:
- Legal liability for back pay and benefits: Courts can award up to double the amount of lost wages and benefits for willful violations.
- Costly reinstatement orders: You may be compelled to rehire a qualified service member, even if it requires bumping another employee.
- Civil litigation and liquidated damages: Willful violators can be liable for liquidated damages equal to the amount of lost wages and benefits, effectively doubling the financial penalty.
- Damaged business reputation and lease/insurance complications: A federal violation can complicate commercial lease agreements and may be flagged in insurance risk assessments.
Legal code: Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
Recent update: The most recent official poster was updated in 2022 to include information about the rights of service members to be free from discrimination and retaliation, and the contact information for the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS).
Who Needs a Your Rights Under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required as all private employers, regardless of size, must display the USERRA poster under federal law (38 U.S.C. § 4334). |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required if it has any employees; the USERRA poster mandate applies to all employers under federal law with no minimum employee threshold. |
| Food Truck | Required | Required if it employs any workers, as federal USERRA compliance is mandatory for all employers subject to the Act. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required if it has employees; there is no small-business exemption for the federal USERRA notice requirement. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (14 Fields)
12 of 14 auto-filledBusiness has employees
booleanCheck 'Yes' if you have any individuals, including yourself as the owner if you are on payroll, performing work for compensation; if you are a sole owner-operator with no other paid staff, check 'No'.
COMMON MISTAKE: Incorrectly answering 'Yes' for a sole proprietorship with only the owner, which incorrectly triggers the full poster requirement when only a notice may be needed.
Number of employees
numberEnter the total number of individuals, including full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff, who are currently on payroll and for whom you withhold taxes.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering an incorrect count by excluding part-time staff, which can affect compliance determination for other labor posters and reporting requirements.
USERRA poster downloaded
booleanConfirm you have successfully downloaded the official 'Your Rights Under USERRA' poster (Form WH-1652) from the U.S. Department of Labor website or a verified state source.
COMMON MISTAKE: Downloading an outdated or non-official version of the poster from a third-party site, which may not meet federal compliance standards.
Need help downloading
booleanCheck 'Yes' if you encountered technical issues or could not locate the official poster and require guidance to obtain the correct file.
USERRA poster printed
booleanConfirm that the downloaded USERRA poster has been physically printed on paper; electronic display on a staff intranet alone is not sufficient for federal compliance.
COMMON MISTAKE: Assuming digital display on a computer monitor meets the requirement, which does not satisfy the 'conspicuous place' posting rule for all employees.
Printing method
selectSelect the method used: 'In-house printer' for standard office equipment, 'Professional print shop' for laminated or larger formats, or 'Other' if a different method was used.
Display location identified
booleanCheck 'Yes' once you have selected a physical location in the workplace where all employees can easily see the poster, such as a break room, time clock area, or near other required labor law posters.
COMMON MISTAKE: Failing to identify a specific, accessible location, leading to last-minute non-compliance if an inspector visits before the poster is actually placed.
Display location description
textDescribe the exact spot, e.g., 'On the wall next to the time clock in the kitchen,' 'On the bulletin board in the employee break room next to the OSHA poster.'
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a vague description like 'in the back' or 'by the office,' which provides no verifiable proof of a compliant, conspicuous posting location.
USERRA poster posted
booleanCheck 'Yes' only after the printed poster is physically affixed (e.g., taped, tacked, or placed under clear plastic) at the identified location where employees can read it.
COMMON MISTAKE: Checking 'Yes' prematurely, before the poster is actually displayed, which creates a false record of compliance and risk if inspected.
Date poster was posted
dateEnter the calendar date (MM/DD/YYYY) when the poster was first put up at the display location; this establishes your compliance start date for records.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a future date or the date the poster was printed instead of the actual display date, creating an inaccurate compliance timeline.
ApronPrep auto-fills 12 of 14 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Your Rights Under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Poster Mistakes
1. Using an Outdated or Generic Poster Version
The most common mistake is displaying a generic USERRA poster or one with outdated contact information. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) periodically updates the poster's design and, critically, the contact information for the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS). Displaying an old poster can delay an employee's ability to file a complaint correctly, potentially harming their claim. Avoid this by downloading the current "Your Rights Under USERRA" poster directly from the DOL's VETS website, verifying the publication date is recent.
2. Failing to Post in a Conspicuous Location
Posting the notice in a break room that is rarely used, a locked office, or an employee-only online portal that isn't frequently accessed violates the conspicuous posting requirement. If an employee, especially one on military leave, cannot readily see the poster, they may miss critical deadlines for asserting reemployment rights. This oversight can lead to USERRA violations and complaints to VETS. Post it in a common area where all employees regularly gather, like next to time clocks, in main break rooms, or alongside other required federal and Oregon labor law posters.
3. Not Providing Individual Notice to Employees on Military Leave
Relying solely on the wall poster does not satisfy the requirement to provide individual notice to employees who are absent for military service. A service member on active duty cannot be expected to see a physical poster at your workplace. Failing to provide separate, direct notice (e.g., via email, mail, or with their final pay) can be grounds for a USERRA claim, as it denies them knowledge of their specific reemployment timelines and benefits. Proactively include a copy of the poster or a summary of USERRA rights in any communication packet sent to employees beginning a military leave.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Your Rights Under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Poster
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Your Rights Under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Poster by City in Oregon
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Eugene | ||
| Portland | ||
| Salem |
Process: No Application Required
Understand Your Requirement
USERRA is a federal law, so the poster is mandatory nationwide. In Portland, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) enforces state-level military leave laws, but the USERRA poster itself is issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. There is no formal application, fee, or approval process with the City of Portland or the State of Oregon. You must simply obtain and display the official poster. Failing to display it can lead to penalties from the Department of Labor.
Obtain the Official Poster
Download the current 'Your Rights Under USERRA' poster for free from the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) website. You can print it yourself. Alternatively, some commercial compliance vendors sell laminated versions, but the free download is legally sufficient. Ensure you have the most recent version; the content is updated periodically by federal regulation.
Post in Required Location
Display the poster prominently where all employees can see it, typically in a common area like a break room or next to other required labor law posters (e.g., Oregon Minimum Wage, OSHA). The posting requirement applies as soon as you hire your first employee. For restaurants with multiple locations, a poster must be displayed at each worksite. Keep a digital or physical copy of the poster in your records to prove compliance.
Where to Apply
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Oregon.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Application for Employer Identification Number
federal
Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corporation)
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsThe timeline varies. The poster itself is a federal notice you must display; there is no application or approval process with a government agency. You can download and print it immediately from the U.S. Department of Labor website. This differs from permits with set review periods, like the Building Permit which has defined timelines per the Portland Bureau of Development Services.
There are no government filing fees for the USERRA poster. The official fee range is $0–$0, as the poster is provided free of charge by the federal government. You may incur minimal costs for printing. Not legal advice — verify with the U.S. Department of Labor.
Yes. The USERRA poster is a federal workplace notice, not a location-specific permit. You simply need to display a current version at each worksite. This is different from location-tied requirements, such as a City Business License/Registration, which must be updated with the City of Portland Revenue Division when you move.
You do not 'renew' the poster. You are required to keep it displayed as long as you have employees. However, you should check the U.S. Department of Labor website periodically for updated versions of the poster to ensure compliance with any changes in federal law.
There is typically no dedicated 'inspection' for the USERRA poster alone. Compliance may be checked during broader investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor or during audits related to other employment laws. An investigator will verify the poster is displayed prominently where all employees can see it, as required by federal regulation.
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 Oregon specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Eugene, Portland, Salem), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 14 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
- Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
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