The registrations, payroll, policy, leave, and operating questions to resolve before day one.

Confirm the work location

Record where the employee will physically work, whether that location can change, and who must approve a move. Mailing address alone is not a durable operating control.

Assign the launch checklist

Depending on the location, work may include business registration, payroll tax accounts, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, required notices, wage-and-hour settings, leave setup, and policy updates.

  • Payroll and tax registration
  • Workers’ compensation coverage
  • State and local policy review
  • Required notices and onboarding documents
  • Manager guidance for leave and timekeeping

Build an ongoing control

A one-time checklist is not enough. Add location approval to recruiting and employee-change workflows, review legislative updates, and audit payroll and leave configurations on a set cadence.

JB

About Jon Bell

SHRM-SCP · Contributing Editor

Jon covers HR service models, compliance operations, and the realities of scaling people infrastructure across states.