
HR compliance is a necessary part of running any organization, but the ever-changing nature of HR laws and regulations makes this difficult. An HR compliance checklist can help to ease the overwhelm and get you on the right track. No matter your business size, maintaining HR compliance minimizes your risk of lawsuits, fines, and negative PR. Plus, with great HR practices, you’ll foster a positive work environment.

HR Compliance Takeaways
- HR Audits should be completed regularly to ensure compliance with all current regulations.
- HR Compliance isn’t just a legal requirement, it helps create a positive work environment.
- Failing to maintain compliant HR practices opens your business to expensive lawsuits, fines, and bad press.
What Is HR Compliance?
HR compliance helps you adhere to federal and state laws and regulations for employment practices. Everything from hiring to employee relations to workplace safety has regulations that you must follow – even if you’re unaware of the regulations. Non-compliance opens your business up to significant financial and reputational risks. Common areas where businesses can be fined or penalized include Form I-9 compliance, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. These fines are not inexpensive. Currently, I-9 violations can cost from $281 to $2,789 per violation.
What Falls Under HR Compliance?
HR compliance spans multiple facets of the employee lifecycle, including:
- Hiring Practices: Ensuring job postings, interviews, and employment offers comply with anti-discrimination laws, state pay transparency laws, and other regulations.
- Employee Classification: Correctly categorizing employees as exempt or nonexempt under FLSA standards.
- Wage and Hour Laws: Adhering to overtime, minimum wage, and payroll requirements.
- Workplace Safety: Implementing policies and training that align with OSHA guidelines.
- Benefits Administration: Managing benefits eligibility and compliance with laws like the ACA.
- Anti-Harassment Policies: Preventing and addressing workplace harassment through clear policies and training.
- Leave Management: Complying with FMLA, ADA, Pregnancy, and other leave-related laws.
Your HR Compliance Checklist
Every year you should ensure that your business complies with any existing or new regulations. We recommend that you take a systematic approach to checking compliance for your organization. This practice has helped us save our clients thousands of dollars in fines and avoid potential lawsuits. We recommend that you ensure compliance with the following.
- Job Descriptions: Ensure job descriptions comply with ADA and EEO standards.
- Onboarding and Offboarding: Standardize processes to ensure legal and procedural consistency.
- Employee Handbook: Update your handbook to reflect current laws and company policies. Ensure that you include anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.
- Employee Classification: Ensure roles are correctly categorized as exempt or nonexempt under FLSA.
- I-9 and E-Verify: Verify that all employee documentation complies with immigration laws.
- Wage and Hour Compliance: Audit payroll practices for adherence to overtime and minimum wage laws.
- Workplace Safety: Review and update safety protocols and training programs to ensure OSHA compliance.
- Benefits Compliance: Confirm that benefits meet ACA and other regulatory requirements.
- Manager Training: Provide regular training on lawful hiring, conflict resolution, and termination practices.
- Data Privacy: Ensure employee data is properly protected and compliant with applicable laws.
Free Download – HR Compliance Checklist
Fill out the form below to download our HR Compliance Checklist. It’s a freebie so feel free to download and print as many as you’d like! We’ll send you monthly HR tips too, but we promise not to use your email for spam.

What Is an HR Compliance Audit?

HR compliance can be complex, especially as your organization grows. That’s where an HR compliance audit comes in. This comprehensive review evaluates your business practices and identifies risks, gaps, and opportunities for improvement. With HR NOLA, the process is thorough and designed to do the heavy lifting for you, so you can focus on running your business!
What Should an HR Compliance Audit Cover?
An effective HR compliance audit evaluates:
- Compliance: Alignment of policies, procedures, and practices with laws and regulations.
- Talent Acquisition: Review of job postings, candidate experience, and hiring processes.
- Employee Relations: Assessment of workplace culture, conflict resolution, and employee feedback.
- Total Rewards: Analysis of compensation, benefits, and competitiveness in the market.
- Risk Management: Identification and mitigation of employment-related risks.
- Workplace Safety: Evaluation of safety policies and training programs.
- Organizational Culture: Understanding the social and psychological environment within your organization.
How Can HR NOLA Help?
At HR NOLA, we specialize in helping businesses navigate the complexities of HR compliance. Our expert consultants stay up-to-date on constantly changing regulations to ensure your business is protected. Through our Culture and Compliance Audit, we assess over 400 data points across HR functions, including compliance, safety, and employee relations.
Here’s how our audit process works:
- Initial Assessment: We start by understanding your current business practices and alignment with organizational goals.
- Data Gathering: Over 3-5 days, we collect and review information covering every aspect of the employee lifecycle.
- Data Analysis: Our team evaluates risks and opportunities for improvement.
- Audit Report: We present our findings, including a compliance score and actionable recommendations for improvement.
Discover your HR Roadmap to Success
With a comprehensive audit from HR NOLA, you’ll receive a tailored action plan to bring your compliance practices up to industry standards and best practices. Whether you’re addressing critical risks or striving to enhance your employee experience, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Staying up to date with regulations doesn’t have to be a daunting HR compliance checklist for you to manage. With HR NOLA by your side, you’ll gain the tools and insights needed to protect your business and foster a thriving workplace. Ready to get started? Contact us today to schedule your exploratory session and take the first step toward a compliant future.
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