Handbookly state guide
Colorado Employee Handbook Requirements: Required Policies, Posters & Notices
What Colorado law actually requires in an employee handbook: required policies with citations, headcount thresholds, and the mandatory poster list — plus the federal baseline every employer owes.
Required at any size in Colorado
These policies cover legal requirements that apply to every Colorado employer, regardless of headcount. Each row cites the law that creates the requirement.
| Policy | Legal basis | Applies at | What it must cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid sick leave policy | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-13.3-401 et seq. (Healthy Families and Workplaces Act) | all sizes | All employers owe accrued paid sick leave (1 hour per 30 worked, up to 48/year); accrual, carryover, and use rules must be communicated. |
| Equal employment opportunity & anti-discrimination policy | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-402 (Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act) | all sizes | CADA covers ALL Colorado employers regardless of size — the EEO policy is functionally required from the first hire. |
| Pay transparency in postings & notices | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-5-101 et seq. (Equal Pay for Equal Work Act) | all sizes | Compensation ranges in job postings and promotion-opportunity notices; handbook recruiting section should reflect the practice. |
| Paid family & medical leave (FAMLI) policy | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-13.3-501 et seq. | all sizes | State FAMLI insurance program; employee eligibility, premiums, and leave rights belong in the handbook. |
Best practice at every size
No Colorado law requires these policies. Most employers still include them, so the handbook drafts them and labels them best practice.
| Policy | Legal basis | Applies at | What it must cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harassment prevention & complaint procedure | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-402 | best practice at every size | CADA prohibits harassment at every size (see the EEO row), but no Colorado law requires a written policy. Under the 2023 POWR Act an employer can raise a defense to a harassment claim only if it has a harassment-prevention program communicated to employees, so most employers adopt one. |
The federal baseline
Federal law applies on top of state law, in every state.
| Policy | Legal basis | Applies at | What it must cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal employment opportunity & anti-discrimination policy | Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; the ADA (15+ employees); the ADEA (20+) | 15+ employees | Federal discrimination law binds at 15+ employees; a written EEO policy is the standard compliance posture at every size. |
| Pay practices (FLSA) section | Fair Labor Standards Act (recordkeeping & minimum wage/overtime) | all sizes | The FLSA does not mandate a written policy, but pay schedule, classification, and overtime rules belong in every handbook. |
Required posters & notices in Colorado
Posting is a separate legal obligation from having written policies. Download current versions free from each issuing agency.
COMPS Order poster (Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards)
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Paid Sick Leave under HFWA poster
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
FAMLI program notice
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, FAMLI Division
Colorado Anti-Discrimination notice
Colorado Civil Rights Division
Leave laws to know
Colorado combines HFWA sick leave, the FAMLI paid-leave insurance program, and COMPS-order wage rules; the pay-transparency law is unique and strictly enforced.
Get the complete Colorado handbook pack
Answer a few questions and get a complete employee handbook for your Colorado business: every required policy above drafted for your headcount and marked required or best practice, the poster checklist, and an employee acknowledgment form. $249, one time.
Frequently asked questions
Does Colorado require an employee handbook?
No US state requires a handbook document itself — but Colorado law imposes specific requirements and notices (this page lists 4 that apply at any size, each with its citation), and the handbook is where employers conventionally publish them. A written policy is also a record you can point to in a dispute.
Which policies are legally required in Colorado?
Paid sick leave policy (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-13.3-401 et seq. (Healthy Families and Workplaces Act)); Equal employment opportunity & anti-discrimination policy (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-402 (Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act)); Pay transparency in postings & notices (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-5-101 et seq. (Equal Pay for Equal Work Act)); Paid family & medical leave (FAMLI) policy (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-13.3-501 et seq.). Requirements that only bind above a headcount threshold are listed separately on this page. Federal requirements — like EEO under Title VII at 15+ employees — apply on top of Colorado law.
What posters must a Colorado employer display?
Colorado requires: COMPS Order poster (Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards) (Colorado Department of Labor and Employment); Paid Sick Leave under HFWA poster (Colorado Department of Labor and Employment); FAMLI program notice (Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, FAMLI Division); Colorado Anti-Discrimination notice (Colorado Civil Rights Division). Federal posters — the FLSA minimum-wage poster, the EEOC "Know Your Rights" poster, and the OSHA "Job Safety and Health" poster — are required on top of these.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is informational document preparation built from public statutes and agency publications, each linked below. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. For a specific dispute or a complex workforce, consult an employment attorney licensed in Colorado.
Sources
Informational document preparation from public statutes and agency publications — not legal advice. Laws change; verify current requirements with the agencies above.