Compliance Stuff

The year 2026 is shaping up to be a critical year for employers. With new regulations, emerging technologies, and shifting cultural expectations, staying up to date with evolving legal issues is more important than ever. Below are six critical issues every employer should have on their radar this year and practical steps to prepare. 1. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) & Equal Employment Opportunity The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will begin 2026 with a quorum and is poised to look to modify or rescind its  Strategic Enforcement Plan  and  Strategic Plan . Less than a month ago, EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas encouraged white men, specifically, to file claims with the agency if they believe they have been discriminated against due to their race or sex. Employers should expect an increase in litigation filed by this group and others in the traditional majority alleging hostile work environment and failure to accommodate on the basis of religion. The EE...

Here are the top 10 workplace compliance items you should tackle in January 2026, based on the latest labor and employment law updates: _____ Warm up with a workplace law refresher.  Did you keep up with all the labor and employment law updates in 2025? Take our  2025 Workplace Law Quiz  to brush up on last year’s developments and put yourself in the best position to take on 2026. _____ Look ahead to what 2026 may bring for employers.  Our comprehensive  FP Forecast 2026  report includes workplace law predictions for the new year from our thought leaders across practice areas and industry teams – consider it a roadmap to help you strategize and prepare. Want the top takeaways? Check out  FP’s Top 10 Workplace Predictions for 2026  (and a sneak peek in the graphic below). _____ Double-check January effective dates.  More than 50 new state workplace laws kicked in at the turn of the year, and several “Big Beautiful Bill” provisions that just to...