The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Dec. 23 again postponed the date by which employers — including most equipment rental businesses — must put up posters to notify their employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The rule was originally scheduled to go into effect on Nov. 14, 2011, which was then changed to Jan. 31, 2012, and is now April 30, 2012.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several other business groups sued the NLRB over the employee rights notification rule, maintaining that the rule violates federal labor and regulatory laws as well as First Amendment rights.

In announcing the postponement, the NLRB stated that it determined that postponing the effective date of the rule would help with resolution of the legal challenges that have been filed with respect to the rule. A Washington, D.C., federal court requested that the NLRB move back the date in order to decide the case.

At this time, the rule includes the following provisions:

• The 11-in.-by-17-in. notice should be posted in a conspicuous place where other notifications of workplace rights and employee rules and policies are posted.
• Workplaces where at least 20 percent of employees are not proficient in English must post a translated version, also available from NLRB.
• If personnel rules and policies are posted on an intranet or Internet site, the notice must be posted there as well.

For a complete explanation and Q & A regarding the Final Rule, as well as a downloadable poster, go to http://nlrb.gov/news/nlrb-postpones-effective-date-rights-posting-rule-april-30.