01/14/2026
Employer Checklist for January 2026
Source: Fisher Phillips, January 8, 2026
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 took effect impact employers nationwide. Review our Employer Cheat Sheet for Workplace Laws Effective January 1, 2026 to make sure you didn’t miss anything.