You’ve probably seen the posters everywhere—in company break rooms, above a time clock, on a bulletin board or in the employee lounge. They’re workers’ compensation policy affidavits and labor law posters that you must post somewhere in your workplace (and they’re free). The posters aren’t for decoration—failing to post them is against the law.

A workers’ comp affidavit is a document signed under oath stating that you’ve purchased mandatory workers’ compensation insurance to cover your employees in case of injury. While requirements for these policies vary by state, you must update a policy affidavit if your insurance changes. If you don’t post your affidavit prominently somewhere at your business, you could be subject to stiff penalties, possible lawsuits or criminal prosecution, not to mention broken trust with your employees.

Like workers’ comp affidavits, labor law posters are mandated state and federal employment law notices that employers with at one employee or more are required to post prominently in an area where they can be seen by all employees. These laws and mandates can change when laws change in that state, so failure to display the correct employment law notices can result in penalties, fines and lawsuits.

Your state, as well as the Federal government, enforces these laws to protect both your business and your employees. Your workers have the right to know the conditions where they’re working, just as you can outline the rules and regulations that guide your business. If you have Spanish-speaking employees, you should consider posting workers’ comp affidavits and labor law posters in both Spanish and English. It’s your responsibility to ensure each of your employees knows their workplace rights under state and federal employment laws.

More information on workers’ compensation laws in your state can be found here.