2026 HR Year in Review: What Changed, What Matters & What Employers Need to Know for 2027

Walk Away Knowing:

✓ The biggest HR and compliance developments that shaped 2026
✓ Which changes may require action from your organization
✓ Where employers are most likely to have compliance gaps
✓ Which policies, processes, and documentation deserve another look
✓ What HR leaders should have on their radar heading into 2027

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2026 Was a Lot. Let’s Make Sure You’re Ready for What’s Next.

HR teams spent another year balancing compliance, employees, managers, payroll, hiring, technology, and everything else that landed on their desks.

You don’t need another list of regulations.

You need to know what actually matters, what requires action, and what you should prioritize next.

Join us as we close out 2026 with a practical look at the changes every employer should know — and the steps you can take to head into 2027 prepared.

What We’ll Cover

Payroll, Overtime & the “No Tax on Tips” Changes

We’ll revisit one of the year’s biggest payroll developments and what employers need to understand about qualified tips and overtime, employee eligibility, tracking, reporting, and year-end responsibilities.

I-9 Compliance & Immigration Enforcement

Work authorization compliance remained a major employer issue throughout 2026. We’ll discuss I-9 requirements, increased attention on employer documentation, common compliance mistakes, and what organizations should be doing before an audit or Notice of Inspection ever arrives.

AI in the Workplace

AI moved quickly from an emerging HR trend to an everyday workplace reality. We’ll look at the compliance and people risks employers should consider when AI is used in recruiting, hiring, employee management, decision-making, and other HR processes.

Wage, Hour & Employee Classification

Employee classification, overtime calculations, bonuses, exemptions, and wage-and-hour practices continued to create questions for employers in 2026. We’ll cover the areas worth another look before entering the new year.

The Growing Multi-State Compliance Challenge

Managing employees across state lines isn’t getting easier. We’ll discuss the expanding patchwork of state and local requirements affecting employers, including leave, wage and hour rules, pay transparency, notices, and other location-specific obligations.

Leave, Accommodations & Employee Protections

We’ll review developments employers should know surrounding employee leave, accommodations, protected activity, and other workplace obligations — plus the policies and manager practices that may need another look.

Pay Transparency & Hiring Practices

Salary ranges, job postings, recruiting practices, and candidate communications continue to face increased state and local regulation. We’ll discuss what employers should be thinking about as requirements continue to expand.

ACA & Benefits Compliance

We’ll revisit ACA employer responsibilities and reporting considerations, including changes to how certain employee statements may be furnished, and highlight what Applicable Large Employers should have on their year-end checklist.

Policies, Handbooks & Documentation

New laws don’t mean much if your policies and practices haven’t caught up. We’ll identify areas employers may need to review, including handbooks, job descriptions, payroll practices, manager documentation, employee notices, and internal procedures.