⏰ Jan 31 Compliance Scramble, HR Not Future-Ready? Discrimination Cases Spike - Jan 28, 2026

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Hello, HR Pros! 🌟 Today is Data Privacy Day, a perfect reminder that sensitive employee info is at risk—especially during the Jan 31 compliance scramble. Let’s talk about what to check, fix, and confirm now—before compliance (or data) slips.

On today’s agenda:

⏰ Surviving January compliance

🔍 Filtering through AI info overload

🚀 Employees evolving faster than HR

⚖️ EEOC lawsuits spike

THE HR SPOTLIGHT

⏰ Surviving the January Compliance Scramble: Triaging Your Deadlines Before They Bite

It’s no secret that January creates the perfect storm for HR teams: year‑end wind‑down, fresh starts, policy changes, and multiple major federal filing deadlines all converging on the end of the month. That’s why this month is one of the highest risk periods for payroll and compliance errors—rushed changes and competing priorities make mistakes far more likely. Now’s a timely cue to tighten processes and avoid last-minute scrambling.

🧩 The Scene: Why January Feels Like a Fire Drill — Multiple deadlines on the same day—W‑2s, 1099s, and key payroll tax forms are all due Feb 2. These competing demands on HR and payroll teams increase pressure and impact accuracy. Errors now mean amended filings, penalties, and employee frustration, not to mention extra work later.

✅ What HR Can Do: Tactical Steps to Gain Control

• Double-check critical data like SSNs, addresses, and classifications

• Confirm W‑2/1099 totals first, then tackle less urgent forms

• Don’t forget distribution confirmations—HR often overlooks verifying that employees actually received forms

• Use Data Privacy Day to remind teams about secure handling of sensitive info

• Prevent mistakes: build a mini pre-deadline checklist, assign owners, and include a “second set of eyes” review before final submission 

Stay focused now and you’ll thank yourself next week—no need to anticipate compliance heartburn.

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😃 Employee Happiness Across US States - Bamboo HR

• What’s unfolding: BambooHR data shows a 40-point gap in employee happiness across U.S. states.

• Why it matters: HR should use these insights to tailor engagement and retention strategies before morale impacts productivity.

• What’s unfolding: Amazon plans another wave of corporate layoffs next week.

• Why it matters: HR must prep internal mobility and support programs to maintain trust and reduce disruption amidst news about major job cuts.

• What’s unfolding: AI adoption caused more job losses in the UK than in other major economies.

• Why it matters: U.S. HR should take heed and balance automation with reskilling to protect talent and future-proof roles.

COMPLIANCE CORNER

• What’s unfolding:  The EEOC Commission has approved a higher share of discrimination claims to proceed to litigation, driving a surge in filed lawsuits.

• HR implications: HR leaders should tighten internal complaint handling and anti‑discrimination training now, as increased filings mean elevated legal risk and a greater need to document responsive actions.

• What’s unfolding: New Jersey has expanded labor protections for employees using medical or recreational cannabis, barring some employer actions based on off‑duty use.

• HR implications: Employers in NJ (and those benchmarking policies) should revise drug‑use policies and educate managers to avoid unlawful adverse actions, with compliance deadlines looming as regulations settle.

• What’s unfolding: A federal court revived a lawsuit by ~6,000 casino workers challenging a smoking‑policy exemption, alleging disparate health impacts.

• HR implications: HR pros should revisit workplace safety and accommodation policies around smoke exposure, monitor litigation outcomes, and prepare for possible policy shifts or accommodation requirements.

BREAKROOM

📬 Missed Monday’s issue ‘5 Recognition Mistakes’? Read it »