Labor Law Updates

You might not see it coming. One dissatisfied employee files a complaint, and suddenly your business is the subject of a Department of Labor (DOL) investigation. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the DOL has broad authority to examine your time and pay practices — from minimum wage and overtime pay to exemption classifications and recordkeeping. With the Wage and Hour Division overseeing labor laws for more than 148 million workers, no employer is too small to be scrutinized.

If you've recently opened a small business — or you're still in the early stages of figuring out your compliance requirements — you may wonder whether labor law poster exemptions apply to your situation. After all, those posting requirements are for big companies with HR departments, right?

HR professionals face a rapidly evolving compliance landscape in 2026, shaped by new regulations, heightened enforcement and growing expectations for transparency and ethical practices. Staying ahead requires awareness, adaptability and the ability to turn complex rules into practical policies that protect both employees and the organization.

For many employees, hair is more than style – it’s identity. Across the country, states continue to adopt laws that prohibit race-based hair discrimination in the workplace, signaling a broader shift in how employers must approach grooming policies and inclusion.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson recently signed the Immigrant Worker Protection Act into law (HB 2105). The Act aims to protect immigrant workers by requiring employers to provide notice to their employees when federal agencies conduct inspections related to employment eligibility verification, specifically concerning Form I-9.