HR Voices 2026 Report: Regulatory Transformations and Disruptions in HR Compliance

For decades, HR compliance followed a predictable rhythm. Federal guidance set the baseline, state laws made some adjustments, and you audited your HR processes annually. If a gap appeared, you fixed it. 

Not anymore. That era of clarity is over. 

Today, the foundational elements of compliance, federal priorities, state legislation, and enforcement patterns shift constantly. Remote work has turned localized compliance into a national puzzle, and the rapid adoption of AI has introduced risks that many governance frameworks haven't caught up with yet. 

To navigate this new reality, OutSolve didn't want to rely on guesswork. We gathered a cross-section of the industry's leading experts, from employment attorneys, HR analysts, and workforce strategists to create our latest proprietary report, HR Voices 2026: Regulatory Transformations and Disruptions in HR Compliance. 

What is the HR Voices 2026 Report? 

OutSolve gathered the top minds and influencers in HR who know the industry in and out and have seen all the trends. HR Voices 2026 pulls together the opinions of these influential figures and gathers their insights on the state of HR compliance, what’s changing, and what your team can do about these shifts.  

HR Voices 2026 is what you need to start the year right and make modifications to your operating plan. Inside, you’ll learn:  

• The reasons HR compliance feels different in 2026 
• Major pivots that organizations need to make 
• Gaps to monitor as you adapt 
• Expert operating lessons for 2026 

What You Will Learn from the Report 

The HR Voices 2026 report moves beyond identifying problems to offering a framework for operational resilience and risk mitigation. Here is a glimpse of the critical shifts and lessons covered in the guide: 

The Shift to Universal Readiness 

Localized compliance is now every organization’s concern. As Joey Price, President & CEO of Jumpstart: HR and Executive Analyst at Aspect43, notes in the report, "Drop your pin in the chat. That’s how location-specific compliance has become." 

Remote work means your compliance obligations travel with your employees. The guide explores how to move from a reactive "Federal vs. State" mindset to a proactive "Universal Compliance Readiness" model that assumes multi-state operations, regardless of where your headquarters are located. 

The Gap Between Policy and Practice 

One of the most significant risks identified by our experts is the "handbook blind spot." As Kate Bischoff, Employment Law Attorney and HR Consultant, k8bisch LLC explains, policies often sit on a shelf while actual daily practices drift away from compliance. 

The report details how to pivot from simply creating policy to actively managing practice. You will learn why contemporaneous documentation of pay decisions and I-9 verifications is more critical than ever, and how to close the gap between what you say you do and what actually happens. 

The Hidden Risks of AI 

Technology is evolving faster than most internal policies. From "Shadow AI," where employees use unsanctioned tools, to the rise of deepfakes in the hiring process, the risks are multiplying. 

Nicole Roberts, Principal HR Industry Analyst – Workforce Strategy & Innovation at 3Sixty Insights; Founder and President of People Solutions Group, emphasizes that "Tools can't replace expertise." The guide delves into why human judgment is the ultimate compliance safeguard and how to build governance frameworks that allow you to leverage AI without exposing your organization to discrimination liability or data leaks. 

The Experts Behind the Insights 

This report is grounded in the real-world operational realities faced by HR professionals like you. We interviewed thought leaders who are managing these shifts as they unfold, including: 

• Renee Arazie: Manager of Operations at OutSolve 
• Kate Bischoff: Employment Law Attorney and HR Consultant 
• Heather Bussing: California Employment Attorney and Analyst 
• Mary Faulkner: Principal and Consultant at IA and former HR Executive 
• George LaRocque: Founder and Principal Analyst at WorkTech 
• Beth Montgomery: Senior Director, Operations at OutSolve 
• Joey Price: President & CEO of Jumpstart: HR 
• Nicole Roberts: Principal HR Industry Analyst at 3Sixty Insights 
• Laurie Ruettimann: Former HR leader turned author, speaker, podcast host, and entrepreneur 
• Desiree Throckmorton: Vice President of I-9 Operations  at OutSolve 
• Mike Wood: Talent Acquisition Analyst & Executive Community Leader at HR.com 

These contributors in the HR community identified that success in 2026 isn't about mastering every single regulation the moment it drops. It is about building adaptive systems. 

Stop Reacting, Start Adapting 

The HR leaders who succeed in 2026 won't be the ones who possess a crystal ball. They will be the ones who stop reacting to every headline and start building operational resilience. 

Our experts concluded that you don't need perfect foresight; you need an infrastructure that recognizes patterns and recalibrates quickly. This report provides the operating principles you need to make that shift. 

Are you ready to move from defensive compliance to proactive readiness? Download HR Voices 2026 today.