Lara Shortz explains how California is aggressively redefining the workplace compliance landscape as federal enforcement efforts continue to retreat. In her latest article for HR.com, Lara examines the far-reaching employment laws set to impact employers in 2026, including expanded pay transparency obligations, heightened wage-and-hour exposure, evolving AI oversight, enhanced leave protections, and new WARN Act requirements. Her analysis underscores a critical reality for employers operating in California: compliance is no longer a reactive exercise, but a strategic business imperative.
