Why Required Postings Matter
California has more mandatory workplace posting requirements than any other state. For restaurants, this means a combination of federal, state, and local notices — some of which must be displayed in specific locations, in specific languages, and updated when the underlying law changes. Failure to display required postings can result in citations and fines during CDPH, Cal/OSHA, or ABC inspections.
The Core Required Postings for California Restaurants
1. IWC Wage Order — The applicable Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Order for your industry (Food Industry employees fall under Wage Order 5). Must be posted in a location accessible to all employees.
2. DFEH Harassment and Discrimination Notice — The California Civil Rights Department “Your Rights and Obligations as a Pregnant Employee” and the harassment/discrimination prohibition notice. Both must be displayed.
3. Workers’ Compensation Notice — Your workers’ compensation carrier information and the employee rights notice. Must be posted in a conspicuous location.
4. Cal/OSHA Safety Notice — The “Safety and Health Protection on the Job” poster. Required for all employers.
5. Minimum Wage Notice — California’s current minimum wage poster. Must be updated each time the state or local minimum wage changes.
6. Paid Sick Leave Notice — The state-required notice explaining employee rights under California’s Healthy Workplaces Healthy Families Act.
7. ABC RBS Notice — If your establishment holds an ABC license for on-premises alcohol service, you must post the ABC’s Responsible Beverage Service notice where it is visible to customers.
Postings That Change With Local Law
Depending on your city or county, you may also be required to post local minimum wage notices (San Francisco, Los Angeles, and several other jurisdictions have rates above the state minimum), local paid sick leave supplements, or health department-specific notices. Each jurisdiction is different.
How to Stay Current
The most common compliance gap is not the initial posting — it’s failing to update notices when the law changes. California’s minimum wage changes annually. DFEH updates its notices periodically. ABC requirements have evolved with the RBS rollout. ComplianceKitchen tracks required notices for your specific location and alerts you when a posting needs to be updated or replaced.