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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a new FMLA poster detailing the employee rights and employer responsibilities recently codified when the FMLA underwent its first major overhaul since it was enacted 15 years ago.

One major change: The new rules consolidate all employer FMLA notice requirements—one of which involves conspicuously displaying an up-to-date FMLA poster.

That means employers should replace their existing FMLA posters with new ones. Plenty of HR vendors will be happy to sell you copies, but you don’t need to spend a penny to comply with the law’s new posting requirements.

Instead, just download a free copy of the official DOL-approved version here. It’s free—and it’s simple to print out as many copies as you need.

The new FMLA rules take effect Jan. 16, 2009—you’ll need to put up new posters by that date.

In addition to increasing employers’ notice obligations so employees will better understand their FMLA rights, the new FMLA rules revise employee notice rules to minimize workplace disruptions due to unscheduled FMLA absences. Technical changes reflect FMLA decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts.

The new rules also codify military family leave rights enacted earlier this year.

Download a complete copy of the final FMLA rules at www.dol.gov/federalregister/PdfDisplay.aspx?DocId=21763.