Employer Briefings & Insights
Monthly briefings, compliance alerts, employer trends, and industry analysis prepared by the AEA Editorial Team.
Compliance Alert
Compliance Alert: Form 5500 Filing Due July 31, 2026
Calendar-year retirement and welfare benefit plans must file Form 5500 by July 31, 2026. Late-filing penalties can exceed $2,700 per day.
Compliance Alert: State Paid Leave Programs Expanding in 2026
An overview of new and expanded state paid family and medical leave programs that employers need to know about in 2026.
Compliance Alert: ACA Reporting Requirements for 2026
A summary of Affordable Care Act reporting obligations and key deadlines for applicable large employers filing for the 2025 tax year.
Compliance Alert: 2026 State Minimum Wage Updates
An overview of state and local minimum wage increases taking effect in 2026 and the steps employers should take to ensure compliance.
What Employers Are Asking
What Employers Are Asking: May 2026
Practical answers to the questions employers are asking this month - EEO-1, Colorado AI Act, Form 5500, summer interns, and exempt-classification status.
What Employers Are Asking: February 2026
Answers to common employer questions in February 2026, including OSHA posting deadlines, ACA reporting extensions, AI hiring tool compliance, and pay transparency trends.
What Employers Are Asking: January 2026
Answers to the most common employer questions in January 2026, covering Q1 compliance deadlines, AI policy requirements, wage thresholds, and remote work tax issues.
Industry Snapshot
Industry Snapshot: Technology Employer Considerations - May 2026
AI hiring laws, the Colorado AI Act, multi-state engineer noncompete enforcement, and exempt classification under the computer-employee exemption for tech employers.
Industry Snapshot: Construction Industry Employer Compliance
A review of the key compliance challenges facing construction industry employers in 2026, including OSHA requirements, prevailing wage rules, I-9 enforcement, and safety training obligations.
Industry Snapshot: Healthcare Employers in 2026
A look at the unique compliance and workforce challenges facing healthcare employers in 2026, including staffing, burnout, scheduling regulations, and OSHA requirements.
Monthly Briefing
Monthly Employer Briefing: May 2026
EEO-1 reporting window, Colorado AI Act compliance prep, Form 5500 deadline, and the practical items employers should put on a May 2026 calendar.
Monthly Employer Briefing: April 2026
April 2026 employer briefing covering spring compliance review, workplace safety month, mid-year benefits review, state legislative sessions, and immigration enforcement developments.
Monthly Employer Briefing: February 2026
February 2026 employer briefing covering ACA 1095-C distribution, OSHA 300A posting, state paid leave developments, and the evolving non-compete landscape.
Trends Report
Employer Trends: State Paid Leave Expansion and Mental Health Parity Enforcement
Two trends with concrete compliance impact - the wave of state PFML programs taking effect in 2026 and the rising enforcement focus on mental health parity in group health plans.
Employer Trends: What Is Working for Retention in 2026
An overview of the retention strategies that employers are finding most effective in 2026, including flexible work, career development, benefits design, and workplace culture.
Employer Trends: AI-Powered HR Tools Becoming Standard
An analysis of how small and mid-sized employers are adopting AI-driven HR and compliance tools in 2026, and what to consider before implementation.
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