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Welcome to our February 2026 employment law updates. This section highlights the latest federal, state, and local HR compliance requirements that may affect your business, including OSHA posting rules, workforce reporting deadlines, immigration changes, and employee leave protections.
Stay informed with timely, practical guidance to help your organization remain compliant, reduce legal risk, and support your workforce with confidence.
Effective: February 1, 2026
Covered employers must post the prior year’s OSHA Form 300A summary by February 1 and keep it posted through April 30.
Resources:
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1904/1904.32
Transparency in Coverage (TiC) Schema 2.0 Compliance Review
Effective: February 2, 2026
Agencies begin assessing compliance for in-network and out-of-network machine-readable files using Schema Version 2.0.
Resources:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/aca-part-70
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/aca-faqs-part-70.pdf
H-2A Range Occupations AEWR Increase
Effective: February 3, 2026
The Department of Labor updates national monthly wage rates for herding and livestock production workers.
Resources:
https://flag.dol.gov/wage-data/adverse-effect-wage-rates
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-20/pdf/2026-00906.pdf
Haiti Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Termination
Effective: February 3, 2026
Termination impacts TPS-based work authorization and EAD validity.
Resources:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/28/2025-21379/termination-of-the-designation-of-haiti-for-temporary-protected-status
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/temporary-protected-status-designated-country-haiti
Ethiopia Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Termination
Effective: February 13, 2026
Termination affects employment authorization eligibility.
Resources:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/15/2025-22746/termination-of-the-designation-of-ethiopia-for-temporary-protected-status
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/temporary-protected-status-designated-country-ethiopia
OPM Recruitment and Relocation Incentive Flexibility
Effective: February 13, 2026
Federal agencies may approve higher recruitment and relocation incentives based on critical staffing needs.
H-1B Weighted Selection Process
Effective: February 27, 2026
The H-1B cap selection process shifts to a wage-level weighted system.
Resources:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b
https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-changes-process-for-awarding-h-1b-work-visas-to-better-protect-american-workers
Effective: February 1, 2026
Employers must provide the Labor Commissioner’s stand-alone notice to current employees annually and to new hires at time of hire.
Resources:
https://www.dir.ca.gov/DLSE/LCO-Letter-to-Employers-New-Laws-2026.pdf
https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Know-Your-Rights-Notice/Know-Your-Rights-Notice-English.pdf
Effective: February 1, 2026
Updates include youth employment standards and 2026 COMPS/PAY CALC wage and hour guidance.
Resources:
https://cdle.colorado.gov/dlss/labor-laws-rules-resources/labor-rules-proposed-and-adopted
https://cdle.colorado.gov/sites/cdle/files/info_%231_2026_comps_%26_paycalc_orders_12.18.25.pdf
Deadline: February 2, 2026
Covered employers must submit annual EEO workforce data through the Secretary of the Commonwealth portal.
Resources:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/corporations/eeo-data-reports.htm
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/pay-transparency-in-massachusetts
Effective: February 22, 2026
Local Law 145 expands unpaid safe/sick leave, permitted uses, and modifies temporary schedule change requirements.
Resources:
https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?GUID=97634BF6-0EAD-455B-8440-A50F25DABD61&ID=6632607
https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/View.ashx?GUID=EC8D4FC2-1336-4173-A7B0-AD58E99DCCCC&ID=15000259&M=F
