95 Critical Items Michigan Employers Need to Address in 2026
Including: ✓ Michigan ESTA Compliance Requirements
✓ PWFA Accommodation Checklist
✓ Pay Transparency Job Posting Updates
✓ Independent Contractor Classification Audit
✓ OSHA Safety & Recordkeeping Requirements
✓ Wage & Hour Compliance Verification
Why You Need This Checklist:
The compliance landscape changed dramatically in 2025.
While many employers think “federal enforcement is softening,” the reality is:
❌ State laws got STRICTER (Michigan ESTA, pay transparency in 6+ states).
❌ Penalties INCREASED (OSHA fines up to $161,323 per violation).
❌ Private lawsuits don’t need federal agencies (employees can sue directly).
❌ Complacency creates gaps (and gaps create six-figure problems).
I’ve seen THREE Michigan CEOs in the last two weeks assume “compliance doesn’t matter anymore.”
All three had critical gaps:
- ESTA sick time not being tracked.
- Job postings missing required salary ranges.
- Independent contractors misclassified.
- Handbooks not updated since 2020.
- Managers untrained on PWFA accommodations.
The cost of these gaps? $60,000-$150,000 per employer.
The cost of this checklist? Free.
What’s Inside the 2026 HR Compliance Planning Checklist:
10 Critical Compliance Sections:
- Michigan Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) Compliance(13 action items)
- Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) Compliance(8 action items)
- Pay Transparency Compliance(9 action items)
- Independent Contractor Classification(6 action items)
- Wage & Hour Compliance(7 action items)
- OSHA & Workplace Safety(7 action items)
- Employee Handbook & Policies(8 action items)
- Training & Documentation(6 action items)
- Recordkeeping & Compliance(4 action items)
- Risk Assessment & Strategic Planning(5 action items)
Your Compliance Score:
At the end of the checklist, you’ll calculate your score:
- 90-95 items checked: ✅ Excellent positioning for 2026
- 70-89 items checked: ⚠️ Good but gaps exist
- 50-69 items checked: Concerning compliance risk
- Below 50 checked: High risk – immediate action required
Who Created This Checklist?
Vanessa Nelson, CLRL
Founder & President, Expert Human Resources
- 16+ years HR compliance expertise.
- Certified Labor Relations Leader (CLRL).
- Certified EEO Investigator for Federal Government agencies.
- Published author: 101 Costly HR Mistakes…and How to Fix Them! and HR Crash Course: 10 Days to Master Compliance, Clarity & Confidence.
- Specializes in helping businesses avoid costly HR mistakes.
What Happens After You Download?
Immediately:
- ✅ Instant PDF download (95-item checklist).
- ✅ Printable format.
- ✅ Priority levels marked (Critical, High, Important).
Optional:
- Schedule a free 15-minute compliance gap assessment
- Learn about our HR Audit services
- Receive our monthly compliance updates
Don’t Wait for an Audit to Force Action
The pattern I see repeatedly:
Phase 1: “We don’t need to worry about compliance right now”.
Phase 2: Employee files complaint OR state audit notice arrives.
Phase 3: Emergency scramble costing $50K-$150K.
Skip Phase 3. Download the checklist. Identify your gaps before it’s too late.
100% Free. No Credit Card. Instant Download.
