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On January 12, 2026, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule that will increase fees associated with its Premium Processing Service. The increased fees will take effect on March 1, 2026, and are based on inflation measured from June 2023 through June 2025. The premium processing fee for Form I-129 nonimmigrant worker […]
Beginning with the 2026 tax year, employers will be required to separately report qualified tips and qualified overtime compensation on Form W-2. Although the IRS provided penalty relief for 2025 and did not require revised forms for that year, this transition period ends in 2026. Employers should be prepared to update payroll, timekeeping, and HR […]
Workforce-related reporting obligations to federal and state governments extend beyond the Employer Information Report (EEO-1 Report) and include emerging state-specific workforce and pay data reporting requirements. Coverage thresholds, information disclosure requirements and deadlines vary by jurisdiction, making compliance more complex, particularly for multistate employers. Here is an overview of key federal workforce reporting requirements as well as […]
Major changes to the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) will take effect on July 17, 2026. First, the amended law reduces the threshold to 15 or more employees. When counting employees, you must include all employees, including those employed in and outside New Jersey. Second, to be eligible for NJFLA leave, employees need only be […]
Unless exempt, California employers must post their annual summary of work-related injuries and illnesses in a visible and easily accessible location at each worksite from February 1 through April 30, 2026. Employers must use Cal/OSHA Form 300A for this posting. Cal/OSHA provides guidance on how to properly complete both the Log of Work-Related Injuries and […]
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that it extended the grace period for states and employers to report tax information about benefits paid through a state’s paid family and medical leave program. For 2026, states and employers will not have to comply with tax and income reporting obligations related to those benefits. The grace […]
On December 23, 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it finalized its proposal to overhaul how US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) selects H-1B registrations for H-1B cap-subject petitions. The final rule replaces the random selection with a weighted, wage-level based selection, effective February 27, 2026. The new rule prioritizes higher-paid foreign […]
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a press release announcing a new one-page technical assistance “Fact Sheet” regarding national origin discrimination. The EEOC also updated its national origin discrimination guidance page, which provides information about “what national origin discrimination can look like in the workplace” and how employees may obtain EEOC assistance if […]
New York State enacted the Trapped at Work Act on December 19, 2025, which amended the New York Labor Law to limit an employer’s ability to enter into an “employment promissory note” with its workers. Effective immediately, New York employers are barred from utilizing certain “stay or pay” contracts with workers. An “employment promissory note” is defined […]
California law already provides current or past employees (or their representative) the right to inspect and receive a copy of personnel records relating to their job performance or any grievances, if their employer maintains them. Effective January 1, 2026, the new requirement expands the state labor code’s definition of “personnel records” to include education and […]