The National Labor Relations Board today announced that it has postponed the start date for its new notice-posting rule until January 31, 2012.

(I previously covered the new rule in a prior post here.)

In a press release, it indicated that it did so to allow for “enhanced education and outreach to employers, particularly those who operate small and medium sized businesses.”

The delay also comes after numerous groups have complained about the posters and a few have filed suit to stop its implementation.

(Indeed, minutes after the announcement, the National Right to Work Foundation claimed credit for the delay in an email saying that the delay occurred only after it and other groups groups are “challenging the rule in federal court”. )

According to the NLRB:

The decision to extend the rollout period followed queries from businesses and trade organizations indicating uncertainty about which businesses fall under the Board’s jurisdiction, and was made in the interest of ensuring broad voluntary compliance. No other changes in the rule, or in the form or content of the notice, will be made. …

Most private sector employers will be required to post the 11-by-17-inch notice, which is available at no cost from the NLRB through its website, either by downloading and printing or ordering a print by mail.

For more information, the agency has a FAQ section here.