FAR 22.1602—Policy.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 22.1602 states the basic policy behind the contractor notice requirement created by Executive Order 13496. It explains that covered contractors must post a notice telling employees about their rights under Federal labor laws, and it identifies the specific rights that the required notice must address under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), including the right to collective bargaining and the rights to associate, self-organize, and choose representatives for bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. In practice, this section does not itself set out the full posting mechanics or enforcement process; instead, it establishes the legal purpose and content focus for the notice requirement that appears elsewhere in the FAR and implementing rules. For contractors, the section signals that labor-law notice posting is a mandatory compliance obligation tied to Federal contracting. For contracting officers and agencies, it provides the policy basis for including and enforcing the notice requirement in covered contracts.
Key Rules
Executive Order posting requirement
Executive Order 13496 requires contractors to post a notice informing employees of their rights under Federal labor laws. This section establishes that the notice obligation is not optional for covered contractors.
Notice must cover NLRA rights
The Secretary has determined that the required notice must include employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. 151 et seq. The notice must therefore address the labor rights identified in the Act.
Collective bargaining protected
The policy specifically recognizes that the NLRA encourages collective bargaining. The notice must reflect that employees have protected rights related to bargaining over terms and conditions of employment.
Freedom to organize and associate
Employees’ freedom to associate and self-organize is a core right that must be communicated in the notice. This includes the ability to act together for mutual aid or protection.
Choice of representatives
The notice must inform employees that they may designate representatives of their own choosing for negotiating employment terms or for other mutual aid or protection. This is a central employee-rights message under the policy.
Responsibilities
Contractors
Post the required notice to employees as directed by the Executive Order and implementing regulations, and ensure the notice accurately reflects the employee rights identified in this policy section.
Contracting Officers
Recognize that covered contracts may carry a notice-posting obligation and ensure the requirement is included, monitored, and enforced through the contract administration process as applicable.
Agencies
Implement the policy through procurement procedures and contract clauses, and support compliance oversight for covered contractor workplaces.
Secretary of Labor
Determine the content of the required notice so that it includes the employee rights under the NLRA identified in this policy.
Practical Implications
Contractors should treat this as a mandatory labor-posting compliance item, not a discretionary workplace notice.
A common pitfall is assuming any generic labor-law poster is enough; the required notice must specifically address the rights identified under the NLRA.
Contracting officers should verify that the notice requirement is flowing into covered solicitations and contracts and that contractors understand the posting obligation.
Because this section focuses on policy, users must look to the implementing FAR clauses and Department of Labor guidance for exact posting format, location, and timing requirements.
Failure to post or to post the correct notice can create compliance issues that may affect contract administration and enforcement actions.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) Executive Order 13496 requires contractors to post a notice informing employees of their rights under Federal labor laws. (b) The Secretary has determined that the notice must contain employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act (Act), 29 U.S.C. 151 et seq . The Act encourages collective bargaining, and protects the exercise by employees of their freedom to associate, to self-organize, and to designate representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection.