December HR Compliance Update: Preparing for 2026
News December 15, 2025
Holiday Bonuses & PFML: What You Need to Know
Wondering whether a holiday or year-end bonus affects your Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) benefits?
Income received through a bonus, like a holiday bonus or an annual sum paid out at the end of the year, will not cause a reduction in your benefits for the week in which it is paid. You should not report bonuses to DFML in your application or when reporting other income received during your leave.
Learn how bonuses are treated—and what that means for your leave—by reviewing the details directly from the Department of Family and Medical Leave.
Start 2026 Compliant: Check Your 2025 Workplace Posters
As we prepare to step into 2026, now is a good time to ensure your workplace posters are current and compliant. Massachusetts employers are required to display the most up-to-date 2025 labor law posters, including:
- Paid Family and Medical Leave PFML workplace poster, notices, and rate sheets for Massachusetts employers | Mass.gov
- Massachusetts Unemployment Poster –MA Unemployment poster
- Veterans Poster – 12.16.24 Workplace Poster
- Fair Employment Law – Labor Posteremployment-law-poster-0/download
- Earned Sick Time poster –https://www.mass.gov/doc/earned-sick-time-notice-of-employee-rights-english
U.S. Pauses Immigration Processing for Multiple Countries
The Department of Homeland Security has paused certain immigration processing and launched enhanced re-reviews for individuals from select countries, potentially delaying both pending and previously approved immigration benefits.
Why This Matters to HR Professionals:
These actions may disrupt hiring, onboarding, and retention of foreign national employees, particularly those requiring visa approvals, extensions, or status changes. HR teams should prepare for longer processing timelines, increased employee questions, and potential gaps in work authorization while monitoring compliance and workforce planning impacts.
This update is based on reporting from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). HR professionals can review the full article on SHRM’s website for additional details.
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