WILLIAMS WARNS OF "OFFICIAL-LOOKING" BUSINESS AD

 HARRISBURG, DEC. 7 – State Sen. Connie Williams opened her mail this week to find an official looking document from a company alerting her to post the new 2007 Pennsylvania and Federal Labor Law Notices in her offices and offering an all-in-one laminated poster.

 The only problem is that the so-called "Final Notice" was to purchase notices that are available to any company for free. Based on some of the phone calls received in Williams' offices since the mailing went out, a number of local organizations and companies received the same mailing and were questioning whether it was an official document.

 "To me this borders on false advertising," Williams said. "The envelope is made to look like an official notification concerning state and federal labor law notices. It even had a control number on the front, a notice to alert the recipient that the 2007 labor law notices must be posted, and the words 'final notice' stamped on the information panel. It is only upon close inspection that you can tell that it is an advertisement from a company selling a poster."

 Williams contacted the Pennsylvania Attorney General concerning the mailing.

 "Anyone with access to the Internet can download the necessary labor law notices for free," Williams said. "It is poor business practice to try to sell a product using what amounts to an official-looking scare tactic. This is a good reminder that everyone should read the fine print and ask questions before they write a check or give a credit card number to any company or organization sending mail or telephone solicitations."

 Businesses (and individuals) have access to the postings on the Pennsylvania Labor and Industry Web site at www.dli.state.pa.us and the federal notices on the United States Department of Labor Web site at www.dol.gov/osbp.