Workplace Law Update: 10 Essential Items on Your December 2025 To-Do List

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Prepare for regulatory action to ramp up. The US government finally reopened on Nov. 13, so now’s the time to gear up for agencies to resume normal operations – and in some cases, with more power than they had before the shutdown. As regulatory action and oversight surges back into motion, here’s what to expect, plus an employer game plan.

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Winterize your workplace compliance efforts. Is your business prepared for cold weather safety and winter leave requests?  When snow or ice makes it difficult for staff to travel to work or forces you to close your operations altogether, you may be obligated to pay certain employees. Here are a few important reminders for the colder months ahead.

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Stay warm on OSHA’s proposed heat safety rule. The DOL is now reviewing extensive feedback it received during a post-comment hearing period on OSHA’s regulatory proposals regarding heat exposure in the workplace. Many employers expressed concern about the scope and one-size-fits-all nature of the rule. Here’s the latest on the proposed heat standard – and what’s next.

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Support multi-cultural holiday celebrations. While employees should feel included year-round, the holidays offer a unique opportunity to blend different cultural, religious, and secular traditions into a respectful and welcoming environment. Whether your employees are celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, another cultural observance, or none at all, you can take practical steps to respect employees from all backgrounds.

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Flip through our compliance “gift guide” for retailers. For retail employers, the holiday season means more shoppers, more shifts, and more workplace law challenges to keep up with. Consider this your guide to 2025’s key compliance must-haves – from classics that return year after year to the newest arrivals and hottest trends this season.

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Follow the national AI regulatory debate. President Trump recently renewed his call for a federal standard block or curb states from passing their own AI-related laws. In a social media post on Nov. 18, the president urged Congress to once again pursue legislation to block state-level AI regulation. Here’s what employers and tech developers should expect and do now to prepare. Meanwhile, a Virginia lawmaker just revealed plans to regulate AI in healthcare and beyond in 2026.

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Preview Senate Republicans’ latest labor reform proposals. A group of key Senate Republicans just introduced a slate of bills that, if passed, would significantly reform US labor law and change the landscape for employers across the country. Here’s what to know about the remarkable legislative package introduced on Nov. 10.

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Save yourself time with our cheat sheet on 2026 IRS limits. The IRS rolled out its 2026 retirement plan dollar limits on Nov. 13, marking the final regulatory release of annual adjustments that will impact all kinds of employee benefits next year. Since these updates are scattered throughout the year among different agencies and across various formats, we gathered them all in one place for your convenience.

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Learn how to seek out new hires with the right AI skills. Businesses are increasingly requiring “AI literacy” from their new hires – especially for positions that have nothing to do with technology. The challenge for employers is nailing down the specific competencies they should be looking for. Here’s how to define the skills you should be seeking and hire workers with AI literacy.

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If you’re a higher ed leader, prepare for the major changes ahead. The Department of Education announced plans on Nov. 18 to shift its administration of education programs to other federal departments – and eventually close DoED for good. Colleges and universities will be significantly impacted by these changes and should consider taking these action steps now.