Compliance answers
Straight answers, with the source
89 straight answers about workplace deadlines and dates — when they're due, who they apply to, and what happens if you miss them. Every answer links to the full details and the official source.
Popular questions
When is the OSHA 300A posting deadline?
Covered employers must post OSHA Form 300A — the annual Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses — from February 1 through April 30 every year, even if they had zero recordable injuries. You can take it down on or after May 1, then keep it on file for five years.
Read the full answer →Who has to post the OSHA 300A summary?
Establishments with 11 or more employees that aren't in a partially exempt, low-hazard industry. If you're covered, you must post the 300A even if there were no recordable injuries that year — and a company executive has to certify the summary as accurate.
Read the full answer →What happens if you miss the OSHA 300A posting deadline?
Failing to post the 300A on time is an OSHA recordkeeping violation. Penalties are adjusted for inflation every January and run into the thousands of dollars per violation, with willful or repeated violations reaching six figures each. If you realize you're late, post it immediately and document when you did.
Read the full answer →When is the OSHA electronic (ITA) submission deadline?
March 2 each year. Covered establishments must electronically submit the prior year's injury and illness data through OSHA's Injury Tracking Application (ITA) by that date. Whether you're covered depends on your employee count and NAICS industry, so confirm both against OSHA's current rule.
Read the full answer →When is the EEO-1 report due?
The EEOC sets the EEO-1 Component 1 deadline each year when it opens the data collection, and it typically falls in spring or early summer. Because the exact date moves annually, confirm the current-year deadline on the EEOC's filing site before you plan around it.
Read the full answer →Who has to file an EEO-1 report?
Private employers with 100 or more employees, plus federal contractors with 50 or more employees that meet the contract-dollar threshold. The report breaks the workforce down by job category, sex, and race/ethnicity.
Read the full answer →When are 1095-C forms due to employees?
Early March. The IRS made permanent an automatic 30-day extension from the old January 31 date, so Applicable Large Employers must furnish Form 1095-C to each full-time employee by around March 2 (the exact day shifts slightly with weekends).
Read the full answer →When is the ACA 1094-C / 1095-C IRS filing deadline?
March 31 for electronic filing of Forms 1094-C and 1095-C with the IRS through the AIR system. Paper filing, where still permitted, is due at the end of February — but employers filing 10 or more information returns in aggregate must file electronically.
Read the full answer →When are W-2s due to employees?
January 31. Employers must furnish W-2s to employees and file Copy A with the Social Security Administration by the same date; anyone filing 10 or more information returns in aggregate must e-file.
Read the full answer →When is Form 5500 due?
For calendar-year benefit plans, July 31 — the last day of the seventh month after the plan year ends. Filing Form 5558 by that date gives an automatic 2½-month extension to October 15.
Read the full answer →Is Compliance Check-Up Day a real holiday?
Yes — but it's a young, unofficial one. Compliance Check-Up Day was founded by CompliCalendar in 2026 as a free, open observance on September 9, encouraging employers to run a quick 15-minute compliance self-check. It isn't a government or industry mandate, and we say so openly.
Read the full answer →Is Workers' Memorial Day a real observance?
Yes. Workers' Memorial Day is observed every April 28 — the date the Occupational Safety and Health Act took effect in 1971 — to remember workers killed or injured on the job. OSHA recognizes it, and the International Labour Organization marks the same date as the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
Read the full answer →Is National Safety Month a real thing?
Yes. National Safety Month is observed every June and is led by the National Safety Council, a long-established nonprofit founded in 1913. Each year highlights practical themes like hazard recognition, ergonomics, and emergency preparedness.
Read the full answer →When is National Nurses Week?
National Nurses Week runs May 6–12 every year, always ending on May 12 — Florence Nightingale's birthday. It's recognized by the American Nurses Association to honor the contributions of nurses.
Read the full answer →When is the Medicare Part D creditable coverage notice due?
Before October 15 every year. Employers that offer prescription drug coverage must tell all Medicare-eligible plan members — employees, spouses, dependents, and retirees — whether that coverage is 'creditable' (at least as good as Medicare Part D), using the CMS model notice, ahead of Medicare's annual enrollment period.
Read the full answer →Do employers have to post an FMLA notice?
Yes, if you're a covered employer — generally those with 50 or more employees, plus all public agencies and schools. You must display the DOL's FMLA general-notice poster where employees and applicants can see it, even if no one is currently FMLA-eligible, and make it available electronically for remote workers.
Read the full answer →How long do you have to keep OSHA 300 logs?
Five years following the end of the calendar year the records cover. Keep the 300 Log, the 300A summary, and the 301 incident reports together — and update a stored 300 Log if you later learn of a recordable case you missed. New recordable injuries must be logged within seven calendar days.
Read the full answer →When is OSHA Safe + Sound Week?
Mid-August — August 10–16 in 2026. Safe + Sound Week is OSHA's annual push, with NIOSH and the National Safety Council, to encourage proactive workplace safety and health programs; any organization can take part and download a free certificate of recognition.
Read the full answer →Is National Forklift Safety Day a real thing?
Yes. National Forklift Safety Day is held each June by the Industrial Truck Association to spotlight safe forklift operation and operator training — a major focus of OSHA's powered-industrial-truck standard, which requires operators to be trained, evaluated, and certified.
Read the full answer →Is Fire Prevention Week real?
Yes — it's the longest-running public health observance in the U.S. Established in 1922 and sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association, Fire Prevention Week falls on the week containing October 9 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Read the full answer →When is National EMS Week?
National EMS Week is observed in May — May 17–23 in 2026 — and is presented by the American College of Emergency Physicians to honor paramedics, EMTs, and the broader emergency medical services community.
Read the full answer →Do travel nurses need an annual TB test?
Not automatically. Under CDC's updated recommendations, health care personnel without a known TB exposure or symptoms don't need routine annual TB testing after a baseline screening at hire — repeat testing is for known exposures or higher-risk settings. Many facilities and staffing agencies still require annual screening by their own policy, so confirm what your specific assignment expects.
Read the full answer →What is a two-step TB test, and who needs one?
A two-step tuberculin skin test (TST) is given as two skin tests a week or two apart to establish a reliable baseline for people who'll be screened periodically — like newly hired health care personnel. It catches the 'boosted' reaction that can otherwise be mistaken for a brand-new infection. A single IGRA blood test (QuantiFERON or T-SPOT) can be used instead of the two-step TST.
Read the full answer →What titers do travel nurses need?
Most healthcare assignments require proof of immunity for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), varicella (chickenpox), and hepatitis B — shown by a titer (a blood test) or documented vaccination. Many also require Tdap, an annual flu shot, and TB screening. The exact list comes from the placement facility and CDC's vaccination guidance for health care personnel.
Read the full answer →Do travel nurses have to pay for their own titers?
It depends on the agency. Some staffing agencies cover or reimburse required titers, TB tests, and physicals; others expect the clinician to pay up front and submit for reimbursement. Ask how compliance costs are handled before you accept an assignment, and keep every receipt.
Read the full answer →Do TB and immunization requirements for travel nurses vary by state?
Yes. CDC guidance and OSHA set the national baseline, but the specific TB screening and immunization requirements a travel nurse must meet are set by the placement facility and state health regulations — so they differ by assignment. Confirm the exact requirements with your agency and the facility before each placement rather than assuming the last state's rules carry over.
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OSHA Deadline
Who has to post the OSHA 300A summary?
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Establishments with 11 or more employees that aren't in a partially exempt industry. If you're covered, you must post even if you had no recordable injuries.
OSHA 300A Posting Begins →How long does the 300A have to stay posted?
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From February 1 through April 30 each year. After that you must retain it (and the underlying 300 Log and 301 forms) for five years.
OSHA 300A Posting Begins →Does the 300A need a signature?
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Yes. A company executive must certify that they examined the OSHA 300 Log and that the 300A summary is correct and complete.
OSHA 300A Posting Begins →Can I take the 300A down before April 30?
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No. The summary must stay posted continuously from February 1 through April 30. You can remove it on or after May 1.
OSHA 300A Posting Ends →What do I do with the 300A after I take it down?
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Retain it with the underlying 300 Log and 301 forms for five years; OSHA can request them during that period.
OSHA 300A Posting Ends →What is the OSHA ITA deadline?
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Covered establishments must electronically submit the prior year's injury and illness data through the Injury Tracking Application by March 2.
OSHA Electronic Submission Deadline →Who has to submit data electronically to OSHA?
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Generally, establishments with 100+ employees in certain high-hazard industries (300/300A/301) and those with 20–249 employees in designated industries (300A). Check OSHA's industry list for your NAICS code.
OSHA Electronic Submission Deadline →How long must OSHA 300 Logs be kept?
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Five years following the end of the calendar year the records cover. You must also update the stored 300 Log if you learn of a recordable case you missed.
Begin New OSHA 300 Log →How quickly do new injuries have to be logged?
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Within seven calendar days of receiving information that a recordable work-related injury or illness occurred.
Begin New OSHA 300 Log →Is there an OSHA heat standard?
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OSHA is developing a dedicated heat-injury and illness standard, but until it's final, heat hazards are enforced under the General Duty Clause and a National Emphasis Program on heat.
OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Campaign →What are the three basics of heat illness prevention?
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Water, rest, and shade — give workers cool water, frequent breaks, and a shaded or cooled area, and acclimatize them to the heat gradually.
OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Campaign →When is Safe + Sound Week 2026?
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It runs August 10–16, 2026. Any organization can participate and download a free certificate of recognition from OSHA.
Safe + Sound Week →What is a safety stand-down?
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A voluntary event where employers pause work to talk directly with workers about a specific hazard — here, preventing falls in construction.
National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls →Compliance
Who has to file an EEO-1 report?
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Private employers with 100+ employees, and federal contractors with 50+ employees that meet the contract-dollar threshold.
EEO-1 Report Filing Deadline →When is the EEO-1 due?
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The EEOC sets the deadline each year when it opens the data collection — often in spring. Always confirm the current-year date on the EEOC site.
EEO-1 Report Filing Deadline →When are 1095-C forms due to employees?
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The IRS provides an automatic 30-day extension from January 31, putting the furnishing deadline in early March each year.
ACA Form 1095-C Distribution to Employees →Who has to send a 1095-C?
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Applicable Large Employers — those with 50+ full-time and full-time-equivalent employees — must furnish a 1095-C to each full-time employee.
ACA Form 1095-C Distribution to Employees →When is the ACA electronic filing deadline?
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March 31 for electronic filing of Forms 1094-C and 1095-C with the IRS. Paper filing, where still permitted, is due at the end of February.
ACA Forms 1094-C / 1095-C IRS Filing →Do ACA forms have to be filed electronically?
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Yes for most employers — anyone filing 10 or more information returns in aggregate must file electronically through the IRS AIR system.
ACA Forms 1094-C / 1095-C IRS Filing →When are W-2s due to employees?
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By January 31. The same deadline applies to filing Copy A with the Social Security Administration.
W-2 Distribution Deadline →When is Form 5500 due?
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For calendar-year plans, July 31 — the last day of the seventh month after the plan year ends. Filing Form 5558 by then extends the deadline 2½ months to October 15.
Form 5500 Filing Deadline →Can I get an extension on Form 5500?
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Yes. File Form 5558 on or before the original due date for an automatic 2½-month extension.
Form 5500 Filing Deadline →Who must display the FMLA poster?
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Employers with 50 or more employees, plus public agencies and schools, must post the DOL FMLA general notice where it's visible to employees and applicants.
FMLA Poster Requirement (Ongoing) →When is the Medicare Part D creditable coverage notice due?
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Before October 15 each year — ahead of the Medicare annual enrollment period — to all Medicare-eligible individuals covered by your prescription drug plan.
Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Notice →When should open enrollment prep start?
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Most HR teams begin in late summer or early fall — around September — so plan decisions, notices, and communications are ready before a fall enrollment window and a January 1 effective date.
Benefits Open Enrollment Prep →Industry
When is Administrative Professionals Day?
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The Wednesday of the last full week of April — April 22 in 2026.
Administrative Professionals Day →What is USERRA?
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The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act — it protects service members' civilian jobs, requiring reemployment after service and prohibiting discrimination based on military obligations.
Employer Support of Guard and Reserve Week →When is Employee Appreciation Day?
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The first Friday in March — March 6 in 2026.
Employee Appreciation Day →What does Equal Pay Day represent?
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It symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the prior year — a marker of the gender wage gap, observed since 1996.
Equal Pay Day →Awareness & Celebrations
When is Compliance Check-Up Day?
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September 9 every year. It was founded by CompliCalendar in 2026 as a free annual reminder for employers and HR teams to run a quick compliance self-check.
Compliance Check-Up Day →Who can take part in Compliance Check-Up Day?
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Anyone. It's a free, open observance — there's nothing to buy and no registration. Employers, HR teams, and safety managers are the natural participants.
Compliance Check-Up Day →What do you actually do on Compliance Check-Up Day?
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Run a short self-audit: confirm workplace postings are current, deadlines are calendared, required training is up to date, and key policies have been reviewed in the last year. CompliCalendar publishes a free checklist to follow.
Compliance Check-Up Day →Who founded Compliance Check-Up Day?
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CompliCalendar founded it in 2026. We disclose that openly — it's our observance, created to encourage a simple yearly habit, not a government or industry mandate.
Compliance Check-Up Day →When is National Nurses Week?
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May 6 through May 12, ending on Florence Nightingale's birthday.
National Nurses Week →When is National Safety Month?
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The entire month of June, led by the National Safety Council.
National Safety Month →Why is Workers' Memorial Day on April 28?
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It marks the anniversary of OSHA's creation in 1971 and the day the Occupational Safety and Health Act took effect.
Workers' Memorial Day →Who created the World Day for Safety and Health at Work?
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The International Labour Organization (ILO), which has observed it on April 28 since 2003.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work →When is National EMS Week?
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It's observed in May — May 17–23 in 2026 — and is presented by the American College of Emergency Physicians.
National EMS Week →Does OSHA require forklift operator certification?
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Yes. Operators must be trained, evaluated, and certified, with re-evaluation at least every three years or after an incident or unsafe operation.
National Forklift Safety Day →When is Fire Prevention Week?
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The week containing October 9, marking the Great Chicago Fire — October 4–10 in 2026.
Fire Prevention Week →What is NDEAM?
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National Disability Employment Awareness Month — observed each October by the U.S. Department of Labor to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and promote inclusive employment.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month →When is Mental Health Awareness Month?
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The entire month of May, first established by Mental Health America in 1949.
Mental Health Awareness Month →Does OSHA require a workplace violence prevention program?
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There's no single federal standard, but OSHA enforces workplace violence hazards under the General Duty Clause, and some states (and industries like healthcare) have specific requirements.
Workplace Violence Awareness Month →When is National Stress Awareness Day?
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The first Wednesday in November — November 4 in 2026.
National Stress Awareness Day →When is World Mental Health Day?
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October 10 each year, recognized by the World Health Organization.
World Mental Health Day →Fun Days
When is National Oreo Day?
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March 6 — the anniversary of the first Oreo sale in 1912.
National Oreo Day →How can we celebrate National Pizza Day at work?
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Cater a pizza lunch with dietary options, run a toppings vote, or pair it with a team welcome — it's one of the easiest morale boosts on the calendar.
National Pizza Day →Why is National Donut Day in June?
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The Salvation Army established it in 1938 to honor the volunteers who served donuts to soldiers in World War I.
National Donut Day →When is National Coffee Day?
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September 29 in the U.S. International Coffee Day is two days later, on October 1.
National Coffee Day →Why is May 4th Star Wars Day?
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It's a play on the franchise's line 'May the Force be with you' — 'May the Fourth be with you.'
Star Wars Day (May the 4th) →When is National Taco Day?
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October 4 — though some years it's also celebrated on the first Taco Tuesday of October.
National Taco Day →When is National Ice Cream Day?
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The third Sunday in July — July 19 in 2026. The whole month is National Ice Cream Month.
National Ice Cream Day →When is Take Your Dog to Work Day?
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The Friday after Father's Day — June 26 in 2026.
Take Your Dog to Work Day →What should employers consider before allowing dogs at work?
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Check lease and insurance rules, plan for allergies and fears, require vaccinations and leashes, and designate dog-free areas.
Take Your Dog to Work Day →When is National Ugly Sweater Day?
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The third Friday in December — December 18 in 2026.
National Ugly Sweater Day →