Employment Law Updates 2026: What Employers Should Watch

Employment laws continue to shift quickly and 2026 is shaping up to be another year where multi-state compliance, pay practices, leave administration, workplace protections, and benefits strategy intersect more than ever.

Our 2026 Labor Law Update provides a high-level summary of key federal and state labor, employment, and benefits law changes taking effect in 2026 that may impact employer policies, payroll, benefits administration, workplace technology, and compliance obligations. Because employment laws vary by state and continue to evolve, this resource is not all-inclusive, and requirements may differ based on employer size, industry, location, and workforce circumstances.

Why this matters for 2026 planning

Many changes are expected to require updates to policies, payroll practices, employee communications, and training programs, and a number of updates take effect throughout the year. For employers operating across jurisdictions—or managing remote/hybrid workforces—small differences in state and local rules can create big compliance risk if systems and managers aren’t aligned.

What’s covered in the 2026 update

Rather than a long list of laws in this blog post, the full update organizes what’s changing into practical sections, including:

• State employment law updates (including changes effective early in the year and additional updates later in 2026)
• Minimum wage updates and related employer considerations
• Paid leave and workplace protections, including expanding requirements and coordination considerations
• Artificial intelligence and technology in the workplace, including emerging rules tied to employment decisions
• Federal labor and benefits updates, plus health plan compliance and retirement/tax-related considerations
• Immigration and workforce mobility planning considerations

What employers can do now (before the busy season hits)

Even without diving into every jurisdiction-specific detail here, there are smart steps employers can start now to reduce disruption later—like reviewing policies and coordinating internal teams so implementation is smoother.

In the full update, we outline actions such as:

• Auditing handbooks, offer letters, and standalone policies
• Coordinating payroll/HRIS/benefits administration for 2026 updates
• Reviewing any automated/AI-assisted tools used in employment decisions
• Training managers and updating required notices and employee communications

Ready for the full details?

Read the full Employment Law Updates 2026 here: Employment Law Updates 2026

Disclaimer: This overview is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice.