Compliance Watch
A running status board for the employment rules HR teams ask about most. Each line links to our full explainer.
| Rule | Level | Where it stands | Who it affects | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overtime salary threshold | Federal | The white-collar exemption threshold is $684 a week, or $35,568 a year, after the 2024 increase was rescinded. | Most employers with salaried exempt staff | Read |
| Independent contractor test | Federal | The Labor Department proposed rescinding its 2024 contractor rule on February 26, 2026. A final rule has not been issued. | Employers using 1099 workers | Read |
| Noncompete agreements | Federal | The nationwide FTC ban was vacated. The FTC now pursues noncompetes case by case. | Employers with restrictive covenants | Read |
| Pregnant Workers Fairness Act | Federal | In force since June 27, 2023. The EEOC has signaled plans to narrow parts of its 2024 rule. | Employers with 15 or more employees | Read |
| Heat illness prevention | Federal | OSHA proposed a heat rule in August 2024. It is not final, and OSHA still cites heat hazards under the general duty clause. | Outdoor and indoor employers in hot conditions | Read |
| Form I-9 enforcement | Federal | ICE reclassified 17 common I-9 errors as substantive violations in a March 16, 2026 fact sheet. | All U.S. employers | Read |
| WARN Act notice | Federal | Sixty days of notice for many plant closings and mass layoffs at employers with 100 or more employees. | Larger employers planning reductions | Read |
| Pay transparency | State | Sixteen states plus Washington, D.C. require some form of pay disclosure as of August 1, 2026. | Employers posting jobs in covered states | Read |
| Paid family and medical leave | State | Delaware and Minnesota began paying benefits January 1, 2026, and Maine followed May 1. | Employers with staff in those states | Read |
| AI in hiring | State | Illinois HB 3773 took effect January 1, 2026. Other states are adding their own rules. | Employers using automated screening tools | Read |
| Rest breaks and seventh-day overtime | Kentucky | Paid 10-minute rest per four hours, a meal period between the third and fifth hour, and seventh-day overtime in some cases. | Kentucky employers | Read |
A note on this page
Compliance Watch summarizes the status of employment rules we cover. It is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm requirements with counsel before acting, and check the date at the top of this page.
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