2026 mid-year compliance checklist

Most HR teams run their compliance check in December. By then, six months of new laws have already taken effect, employees have moved across states, and your handbook hasn't been updated in months.

A mid-year audit isn't just a good habit. It's how you catch issues before they become violations and how you get ahead of what's coming down the pipe.

This expert-built checklist, developed by Rippling's PHR- and SHRM-certified HR advisors, walks you through a structured halftime review and a set of prep items to tackle before year-end.

What's inside:

• Q2 payroll filing verification checklist, including Form 941, state returns, and SUI deposits

• Minimum wage audit for hourly and tipped workers across every state where you have employees

• Multi-state hiring checklist covering Secretary of State registration, payroll tax accounts, required posters, and workers' comp

• Quick compliance check for pay transparency postings, AI hiring notices, and key 2026 state-specific laws

• State-specific items for highly-regulated states, including New York and California

• Open enrollment prep timeline and required training completion audit for H2