WHAT’S HOT IN HR
By: Amy Matthews, SPHR
It’s that time of year again—the ominous fourth quarter. Year end, open enrollment, holiday parties, bonus calculations, office hours are all over the place, and half your staff is missing. It’s a good time to be in HR!
It is also time to ramp up for next year by making sure your company is compliant. Conducting an annual HR checkup is a great practice to get into.
What should you be looking for? HR departments can cross over into many segments. For purposes of this article, we will focus on the most common areas: payroll, compliance, risk management (with a little IT for flavor) and administration.
Payroll
- Review wages (and, while you’re at it, the FLSA classifications).
- Compare your competitive advantage in the marketplace by title, salary, and benefit offerings.
- Holiday bonuses (calculate and issue).
- Make sure everything is set for the first payroll run for the upcoming year.
- Request that employees verify their current demographic information (those W2s are coming).
- Create and/or publish the upcoming year payday schedule.
- Is your PTO a “use it or lose it” policy? Do unused days carry over? Do you pay out unused PTO? Whatever your policy, now is a good time to get everything up to speed.
Compliance
- Were there any new employment laws in the state(s) in which your company operates? If so, make sure your handbook reflects this, along with any updated federal laws.
- Purge terminated files (when legally applicable). See our retention schedule for guidance.
- Audit personnel files, I-9, and interview documents for compliance. Purge what you can, being mindful to use a secure method of document destruction/retention.
- Check your labor law postings; making sure they are up-to-date.
Risk Management
- Mark your calendar to post the OSHA 300A on January 31 (and remember to take it down on April 30th).
- Conduct or schedule a facility walk. Check the safety data sheets (SDS); look for areas to improve safety for your workers. TIP: some workers’ compensation insurance carriers offer this service for free. OSHA does as well.
- Pend your business insurances for renewal pricing/vendor negotiations (if you haven’t already). Invite your broker out and make sure all coverages are up-to-date based on the current state of the business .
- What’s the state of your IT? Verify backups and server capacities. Meet with your IT team/vendor, if applicable.
Administration
- Are you in charge of the holiday party? Make the reservations, create some guidelines.
- If your budget starts in January, now is the time for last minute tweaks and reviews.
- What vendor contracts are you responsible for? It may be time to review/renew.
- Meet with other department heads and/or ownership. See what’s on the horizon for the upcoming year, so you can align your department accordingly.
- Purge the files that can be purged. Store, shred or scan your terminated personnel files, DETR cases, interviews, resumes, applications, investigations, workers’ compensation claims, and the like.
- Partner with your finance department on the paper purge. Most items must be stored, so a group effort can take some of the pain out of it.
We hope you find these tips helpful as the new year looms. Please contact us with specific questions about any of these items or to schedule a year end/year beginning audit. We are here to help!
HR FORMS
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For over 85 years
Workplace compliance and HR administration
Nevada Association of Employers (NAE) has compiled a collection of commonly used HR forms, checklists, policies, and employer guides to help Nevada businesses manage workplace compliance and HR administration.
Whether you are looking for an employment application, employee file checklist, payroll deduction form, performance appraisal form, or FLSA exemption worksheet, NAE provides resources designed to support employers with day-to-day HR operations.
These tools help employers maintain consistent documentation practices and ensure workplace policies align with federal and Nevada employment regulations.
Employers who need additional guidance on HR compliance may also benefit from services such as HR Hotline support or professional HR audits, which help identify potential compliance gaps before they become legal issues.
Access HR Forms Through the Member Portal
NAE members can access these HR resources through the Member Portal (login required). The portal includes downloadable HR forms, customizable policies, and other templates that help employers manage employee documentation and HR procedures efficiently.
These resources are designed to work alongside other NAE compliance tools, including the HR Compliance Checklist and Employee Handbook Review services that help employers maintain legally compliant workplace policies.
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Need a Form or Resource Not Listed?
If you don’t see the HR resource you need, NAE’s HR professionals and employment law attorneys are available to help.
Members can request guidance or customized resources through services such as Legal Hotline or employment legal services, which provide expert advice on workplace compliance and HR documentation.
Contact Nevada Association of Employers to speak with our team about your HR needs.
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📧 Email: info@nevadaemployers.org
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