Brooklyn – After being contacted by frustrated Borough Park small business owners, Councilman David Greenfield is advising businesses in the area to be wary of vendors making high-pressure plugs to buy expensive labor law compliance posters that are available for free.

Federal and state authorities require businesses to display information on proper labor practices, including the minimum wage. State law requires firms that sell businesses posters with this information to notify potential customers that such postings are also available online and free-of-charge from the government.

According to several small business owners from Borough Park, a person approached them claiming that they could either buy a $50 compliance poster or face a possible $7,000 fine. The proprietors say that they were given no notice that these postings were available free-of-charge and the person gave the impression that he was a government agent.

“With conditions as tough as they are for small business owners, I think it’s ridiculous that roving salesmen are pressuring small businesses to pay $50 dollars for posters, while neglecting their legal obligation to disclose that these products are available for free,” Councilman Greenfield emphasized. “Everybody has a right to make a living, but to do it by misleading small businesses is plain wrong.”

For businesses that have questions about required labor postings or would like to download free copies of required federal and state postings, the best resources available are the Federal and New York State Department of Labor websites. Information on federal postings can be found at www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/osdbu/sbrefa/poster/matrix.htm. For state postings, business can visit www.labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/laborstandards/employer/posters.shtm.

Councilman Greenfield has asked the Attorney General’s office to look into the business practices of compliance poster vendors in Brooklyn. Any business owners with questions about federal or state posting policies can call Councilman Greenfield’s district office at (718) 853-2704 or stop by at 4424 16th Avenue in Borough Park.

(YWN Desk – NYC)