Q4 can feel like a sprint for HR teams. Between compliance deadlines, workforce planning, and employee training updates, it’s easy for things to slip through the cracks. That’s why we’ve built a practical checklist to help HR professionals stay organized, compliant, and ready to finish the year strong.
1. Review Compliance Deadlines
End-of-year compliance is one of the biggest pressure points for HR. Missing a deadline can mean fines, legal risk, or employee complaints.
- Harassment Prevention Training: Many states, including California, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maine, require annual or biennial sexual harassment prevention training. Make sure your team is up to date.
- Workplace Violence Prevention: New laws like California’s SB553 Workplace Violence Prevention Training and New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act require annual training for employees.
- Safety Training: Review the results from your annual hazard identification process to identify the safety training topics to address, whether that is retraining or training new employees. Common safety training topics include:
- Employee access to medical records
- PPE and respiratory protection
- Hearing conservation
- Portable fire extinguishers
- Hazardous materials and substance-specific training
- Bloodborne pathogens (BBP)
- Industry-Specific Compliance: Banking and healthcare sectors often have strict year-end reporting requirements. Double-check training completions to stay audit-ready.
👉 Pro tip: Don’t wait until December — your future self will thank you.
2. Refresh Training Plans
Annual training plans aren’t just about compliance. They’re also a chance to support professional development and reinforce workplace culture.
- Assign refresher modules in key compliance areas like workplace safety training, diversity and inclusion training, and cybersecurity.
- Identify skills gaps and offer learning paths for leadership, customer service, or remote work readiness.
- Consider new training to support 2025 initiatives, such as digital skills or AI in the workplace.
3. Check Employee Records
Accurate records make life easier — for HR, managers, and auditors alike.
- Confirm all compliance training is tracked in your learning management system.
- Verify employee certifications and licenses haven’t expired.
- Generate year-end reports so you start Q1 with a clean slate.
4. Plan for Workforce Changes
Q4 often brings hiring surges, seasonal roles, and promotions. Staying ahead of workforce changes helps avoid compliance gaps.
- Enroll new hires in onboarding and compliance courses right away.
- Support managers moving into leadership roles with supervisor training.
- Plan for turnover — make sure departing employees complete required training before exit.
5. Prep for 2025
A little prep now means less stress later.
- Audit your current course library — is it up to date with federal, state, and provincial requirements?
- Budget for 2025 compliance training and professional development early.
- Explore bundled solutions like training portals or volume pricing to stretch budgets further.
Wrap Up the Year with Confidence
Q4 doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We hope this planning list helps you to:
- Stay compliant with harassment and workplace safety training.
- Keep employee records accurate and audit-ready.
- Prepare your team for 2025 with the right courses in place.
Need a hand closing out Q4?
We’re here to help with compliance training that makes sense. Contact our sales team today!