10 Essential Items on Your December 2025 To-Do List

Here are the top 10 items you should tackle in December 2025, based on the latest workplace law developments and upcoming critical compliance issues:

Prepare for regulatory action to ramp up. The US government finally reopened on Nov. 13, so now’s the time to gear up for agencies to resume normal operations – and in some cases, with more power than they had before the shutdown. As regulatory action and oversight surges back into motion, here’s what to expect, plus an employer game plan.
Winterize your workplace compliance efforts. Is your business prepared for cold weather safety and winter leave requests? When snow or ice makes it difficult for staff to travel to work or forces you to close your operations altogether, you may be obligated to pay certain employees. Here are a few important reminders for the colder months ahead.
Stay warm on OSHA’s proposed heat safety rule. The DOL is now reviewing extensive feedback it received during a post-comment hearing period on OSHA’s regulatory proposals regarding heat exposure in the workplace. Many employers expressed concern about the scope and one-size-fits-all nature of the rule. Here’s the latest on the proposed heat standard – and what’s next.