From open enrollment to ACA and other crucial deadlines, it can truly be hard for businesses and individuals to stay compliant.
Fortunately, this Jason Simons, an Austin IT services professional who works with HR professionals to stay on top of compliance covers a few dates, laws, and regulations to watch out for in 2020. While the list below isn’t exhaustive, it covers the most important milestones and trends that will go a long way to help R professionals end the remainder of the year with a bang.
Key HR Compliance Dates
January 31st, 2020
January 31st is the deadline by which all businesses must have sent out Form 1099-MISC to contractors and vendors, and Form W-2 to employees.
March 2nd, 2020
All large businesses should post Form 300A (injury or illness records for organizations with more than 250 employees) electronically by March 2, 2020. Also, this is the deadline for the submission of Form M-1. Form M-1 is the annual report with information regarding employee benefit plans.
July 1, 2020
Here’s a complete summary of the changes that take effect on July 1st, 2020
More Paid Leaves
The 2020 summer brings along increased leave benefits both at the local and state levels. Employees in New Jersey, California, and the District of Columbia may access Paid Family Leave (PFL), parental leave, and medical leave.
Minimum Wage Rate Changes
Also effective July 1, 2020, are numerous wage amendments. Employees in Oregon, Illinois, and Nevada will see an increased minimum wage. Also in the list of those who will see some changes to their minimum wages are employees in Minneapolis, Washington DC, Chicago, Cook County, Montgomery County, Portland, and employees in St. Paul. Additionally, Virginia and Chicago are set to repeal numerous exemptions to the minimum wage laws.
These are just some of the rate changes set to take effect on July 1, 2020.
Workplace Safety Laws
States will enact laws that ensure nondiscrimination provisions for all employees, job applicants, and workers. For example, beginning July 1, 2020, hotel and casino employers in Illinois will be required to have laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Later in the year, the U.S Supreme Court is set to rule on whether federal laws offer the same protection following disagreements between courts.
Nondiscrimination Laws
Yet another compliance trend to watch out for in 2020 is the enactment of discrimination protection laws. This remains a key focus for states and lawmakers. For example, Virginia now prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle and the law takes effect on July 1, 2020. In Ilinois, the Human Rights Act has been expanded and clarified to ensure protection against discrimination in the workplace. This law also aims at protecting interns from any form of discrimination.
Employers and HR practitioners in Oregon and Virginia should also take note of the new laws related to protection against all forms of discrimination.
What Next?
There you have it – the recent changes in employment laws and we should, of course, expect these trends to remain ineffective operation even in the years ahead. Now, it is entirely upon HR professionals to review their workplace policies, forms, and best practices to see to it that they are compliant with these new applicable laws. Besides, it is the obligation of employees, applicants, and workers to report any form of a suspected or actual violation of these current and existing laws to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and such authorities.
