1. Ensure your policies comply with employment law changes. For example, in Colorado for 2019, benefit plans must reimburse employees for prescription contraception. In Illinois, employers must reimburse employees for necessary expenditures related to services performed. Check with your employment counsel for details.

2. Minimum wage increases. In Colorado, minimum wage is now $11.10 (tipped employees: $8.08), and $12 in 2020 (tipped employees: $8.98). In Illinois, minimum wage is $8.25 but $12 in Chicago ($13 on July 1, 2019) and $11 in the rest of Cook County (note these figures are different for tipped employees).

3. Data Privacy is Vital. Implement procedures for collection, storage, and use of personal identifying info, and security measures. In Colorado, employers maintaining, owning or licensing personal identifying information in the course of the person's business are required to do so (enacted in August 2018) and many states require similar procedures.

4. HR Technology is exploding. From predicting employee turnover to onboarding, training, and engaging employees, businesses will look to HR cybertronics for turnover solutions, cost savings, and higher morale through responsiveness, data access, and stronger relationships. Explore better ways to integrate technology into Human Resources for your business needs.

5. Equal Pay is Here to Stay – Yaaaay! Equal Pay laws in states such as Oregon's go into effect this year, in addition to employer bans on applicant salary history in various states and municipalities (e.g., CA, HI, OR, and several NY cities).