Ohio has enacted legislation, House Bill 246, which requires all covered employers working on commercial projects to use the federal E-Verify system (E-Verify) to confirm the legal work status of every new hire. House Bill 246 is effective March 19, 2026.

On Jan.  27, 2026, the governor of Puerto Rico issued Executive Order 2026-005 (EO 2026-006), declaring a public health emergency and implementing an additional 5-day paid sick leave requirement for non-exempt employees due to an influenza outbreak on the Island.

Under 2026-005, non-exempt employees who have been diagnosed with or are suspected of having influenza are only entitled to the additional five paid working days of leave once accrued paid sick leave and any other paid leave entitlement (e.g. vacation) has been exhausted. 

When an employee leaves, finding and training a replacement can be costly and time consuming. That’s why retaining employees, especially high-performing ones or those in hard-to-fill positions, is critical. Here are some strategies to consider for retaining employees.