The 2026 Employee Handbook Update: What Employers Must Know (SSMF04)

If there’s ever a time to rethink your employee handbook, it’s now. The recent wave of workplace changes—including the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB Act) signed in July 2025—demands careful updates that reflect evolving benefits, payroll rules, and compliance obligations.

This session will walk you through key OBBB Act impacts like new tax deductions for tips and overtime, employer reporting requirements, and your handbook’s role in communicating these changes. Beyond the OBBB Act, you’ll also learn about important 2025 updates around remote work policies, AI use, paid leave expansions, inclusion, employee classification, and multi-state regulatory challenges affecting compliance and risk management going into 2026.

Disclaimer: No Gen AI here—our courses are crafted by real HR professionals who deliver accurate, insightful and practical education.

Learning Objectives

  •  Identify and prepare for common employee handbook violations and risks.
  •  Incorporate OBBB Act-required updates including tip and overtime tax deduction policies.
  •  Understand new payroll reporting requirements tied to OBBB.
  •  Navigate evolving regulations affecting remote and hybrid work policies.
  •  Establish AI workplace use guidelines to avoid bias and discrimination.
  •  Update your handbook for expanding paid sick and family leave laws.
  •  Comply with anti-harassment, inclusion policies, and updated reporting protocols.
  •  Align employee classification and overtime exemption policies with recent court rulings.
  •  Manage social media policies and supervisor roles as compliance ambassadors.
  •  Utilize training as a proactive defense against workplace litigation.

Who Should Attend

  •  Employers, business owners, and company leadership
  •  HR professionals and compliance specialists
  •  Payroll administrators
  •  Managers and supervisors
  •  Small business owners