Mid-Year HR Compliance Check – Are You on Track?

Ah, summer! The perfect time to kick back and let HR manage itself. What could possibly go wrong? Seriously though, I know this feeling because I’ve been there too! But summer is NOT the time to relax, but a time to strategize to finish the year strong.  Getting your compliance in order is a top priority!

So where do you begin when the pressure is off? I would start by reviewing your progress on goals thus far. How are our initiatives coming along. Is there anything that you’ve let fall to the wayside. Performance season will be upon us before we know it and now is the perfect time to realign with your goals and make sure you’re meeting or exceeding them.

Handbooks, Job Descriptions and Performance, Oh My!

July is also a good time to check in on your compliance efforts. When was the last time your handbook was updated. Are there changes in federal or state laws that have not been made? Are there policies that always cause confusion or come into question. Now is a great time to focus on making these updates and making sure the handbook is compliant. Many benefits brokers have handbook tools they can share with you if you are not sure where to start. I also suggest using AI to help with the wordsmithing and tone. Always check the regulations to be sure that AI is not imagining the laws.

Once your handbook is up to date, take this opportunity to ensure your job descriptions are accurate and compliant. Have there been significant changes to some roles that were not made? Are there new positions that will be needed in the future that should be defined and written sooner than later. Staying on top of these changes will help smooth out the demands when you hit year end.

Mid-year is a good time to conduct performance check-ins. Does your team know where they stand on performance? Is your process firmly in place for when you need it or do you need to revamp some areas to improve it. Performance check-ins should be constructive and give the employee some areas to improve upon. No one is perfect! We can all benefit from some constructive feedback. If the performance is below expectations, the employee should be aware of it at this meeting, alleviating the surprise at year end.

Ohio Employers Compliance

Finally, for employers in Ohio, July means a Workers’ Compensation True-Up Report is due. It is a mandatory report and is due on July 15^th of each year. The purpose of the report is to compare the estimated payroll you reported at the start of the policy year to your actual payroll for that year. It ensures you’re paying the correct premium for workers’ compensation coverage.

While it is imperative to get away from the office and enjoy some vacation time, summer can be a very important season to keep your HR compliance in check. Handbook updates, job description changes, performance reviews and the Workers’ Comp True Up Report will all be beckoning for your attention. You won’t regret getting these things off your plate before Q4 kicks in allowing you to cruise through the end of the year. Stay cool this summer! 😎