Employment Law Issues Accountants Need to Know

Author: Robert K Minniti

This online course provides accounting and finance professionals with a practical, up to date overview of the employment law issues that directly affect workplace compliance, financial reporting, risk management, and organizational governance. As employment regulations evolve rapidly—with new overtime rules, updated independent contractor classifications, expanded privacy requirements, increased ADA enforcement, and heightened scrutiny of discrimination and workplace safety practices—accountants must understand how these legal developments impact payroll processes, internal controls, recordkeeping, and overall business operations.

Participants will review key laws including wage and hour rules, anti discrimination regulations, FMLA requirements, privacy and cybersecurity laws, social media and BYOD policies, and emerging federal and state regulatory actions. Real world scenarios illustrate how employment law violations can lead to financial misstatements, fraud risks, compliance failures, and reputational damage. This course is educational only and does not provide legal advice. For legal guidance, please consult qualified counsel.

Updated in 2026 for new laws and regulations

Publication Date: May 2026

Designed For
This course is ideal for professionals responsible for payroll compliance, HR‑related accounting processes, internal controls, or organizational risk oversight.

Topics Covered

• Wage and hour laws, overtime rules, and compliance expectations
• Discrimination regulations and workplace equity requirements
• ADA issues, including website accessibility considerations
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) obligations
• Employee privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity concerns
• Social media policies and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) risks
• Hiring, interviewing, and background check legal requirements
• Independent contractor classifications and regulatory updates
• FTC non compete proposal and its implications for organizations
• Other emerging employment law issues relevant to accountants

Learning Objectives

• Identify critical employment law issues that accountants must monitor within an organization
• Recognize red flags that may indicate illegal acts or compliance violations
• Explain how wage and hour, discrimination, ADA, and FMLA requirements affect payroll and financial processes
• Evaluate risks related to hiring, background checks, BYOD, social media use, and employee privacy
• Identify the impact of new overtime rules, independent contractor guidance, and the FTC non compete proposal on accounting processes
• Apply foundational employment law understanding to strengthen internal controls and compliance monitoring

Level
Basic

Instructional Method
Self-Study

NASBA Field of Study
Business Law (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites
None

Advance Preparation
None