As the saying goes, out with the old in with the new! 2020 has been a hectic year and one of astounding resilience, and now as we reach the year’s close, it can be a little less demanding for most of your staff—a season of office parties, vacation time, and celebratory staff lunches. However, if you have an HR department, it can be one of the busiest times. Before HR departments can ring in the new year, they have to tie up administrative details remaining from 2020 and ensure the company is on course for a seamless transition into the upcoming year.
Among important items on HR’s list at the end of the year include compliance duties arising from Federal agencies such as the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service and other state agencies with various deadlines for employers to file forms and send notifications to employees.
2020 the major curveball for HR
The year 2020 brought on an unprecedented event known as the Coronavirus pandemic. It rocked the workplace in various ways, including navigating payroll amidst the remote workplace new normal, Paid Time Off details due to COVID-19, and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This final quarter will be challenging for many as we button up details on the unexpected year that we have had.
Will COVID-19 continue affecting the workplace in 2021
Many legislative rulings, such as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (or FFCRA), are set to expire at the end of the year. We cannot see what the future entails for the workplace, specifically beyond this, so we advise staying up to date on current HR news.
To assist you in maintaining compliance, we put together a few resources like a 2020 end-of-year checklist (click the image if you would like to print a copy):
Each time we reach the end of the year, we are brought new challenges and tasks. Certain areas are vital for HR health, including
- Handbook reviews (including new sections relating to COVID-19 policies)
- Salary and Wage benchmarking
- File Retention Requirements
- HR Health check assessment of your organization
- Update labor posters and training and education for sexual harassment
- Sexual Harassment Training
By performing tasks such as those listed above, you set a great foundation for a better 2021.
Around this time, many HR directors also audit headcount to make sure its numbers agree with those used in public reports and by managers. Some suggest updates to the employee roster monthly and printing out the final one of the year to serve as a master record.
For more information or help with your end of the year HR needs, contact us at or visit www.vertisourcehr.com.