Blog posts about
Compliance

Summer heat does not wait for paperwork. When temperatures surge past triple digits across the South and Midwest, heat safety is compromised. Your crew on the asphalt or inside an unconditioned warehouse faces real danger within minutes. OSHA updated its National Emphasis Program for heat hazards to sharpen its enforcement focus. They added 22 industries […]

Mark your calendars! New compliance rules take effect this October, and protecting your business starts with knowing what is changing. The latest updates bring major changes to state and federal employment laws, changing everything from workplace policies to payroll. Key changes include the federal repeal of OFCCP affirmative action mandates and Alabama’s ban on sexual […]

States are enacting new workplace artificial intelligence laws that focus on transparency and worker privacy. If your business uses software to score applicants or screen current employees, state laws now demand clear notices and strict record-keeping. Connecticut will require a disclosure starting in October when AI informs major employment decisions. Colorado mandates notices for job […]

When shopping for the right PEO for your business, you’ll naturally look for a few checkpoints, such as technology, employee benefit options, and customer service. But perhaps the biggest point you’ll need assurance on is their trustworthiness. That’s where ESAC accreditation comes in. The Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC) is one of the Professional Employer […]

It can be tricky to determine whether to classify your employees as exempt vs nonexempt. Good thing we’re here to help.  Exempt vs. Nonexempt: Exempt means that an employee doesn’t receive overtime pay regardless of hours worked. Nonexempt means that an employee must receive overtime pay (typically at a rate of time and a half) […]

July brings a fresh wave of state and federal compliance updates. Nextep has the complete rundown to keep your business on track. Get started using these quick links: Part 1: Federal Compliance Spotlight: New EEOC National Enforcement Plan On June 4, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted to replace its previous Strategic Enforcement […]

When a week of snow plows across the United States, it leaves a few important questions. Is travel to the workplace safe? Who absolutely needs to be there? And which employees will get paid? How do I prepare for inclement weather days? Having an inclement-weather policy answers all the questions above in advance for you […]

If your employee needs health-related time off, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may require your company to provide it. This FMLA 101 guide will help you navigate the process. Now that we’ve covered the basics, this guide will explain the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to help you handle employees’ leave requests […]

It’s that time of the year again! To stay current with the latest federal regulations, ensure your workplace labor posters are up to date. This helps you avoid potential fines and stay compliant. Several state compliance laws have changed at the start of the new year, which may require you to update your employees’ posters. […]

For years, HR teams have asked: If an employee has a 30-minute appointment, but it takes them an hour to get there, is that drive time Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)-protected? The Department of Labor (DOL) just gave us a definitive answer in Opinion Letter FMLA2026-2. For employers, this is both a compliance requirement and […]

In December 2025, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) highlighted seven specific Letters of Interpretation (LOI). Below is a summary of what this means for the employer and how these resources can be used to mitigate risk. The Big Picture: Why This Matters OSHA is signaling a shift toward a “compliance assistance” model. Rather […]

As we kick off 2026, we’d like to give you a heads-up regarding changes to Federal Unemployment taxes (FUTA) for employees in California, the Virgin Islands, and New York. Some states are subject to a “Credit Reduction,” which essentially means employers in those states pay a higher federal unemployment tax rate to cover outstanding federal […]