More than a Legal Requirement

When most people think of compliance, their first thought is often that it’s just a legal requirement, a box we have to check. But that’s selling it a bit short. The truth is, compliance is much more than that. It’s a strategic choice, a way to manage risk, protect your business, and build trust within your organization.

Compliance Is About Choices, Not Just Rules

What makes compliance truly strategic is the element of choice. Employers aren’t just reacting to a set of regulations; they’re making decisions about how they want to run their business, how they want to support their employees, and ultimately, what kind of company they want to be.

Take the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as a prime example. When the ACA rolled out, the conversation wasn’t just about penalties for noncompliance, but the choices companies made to manage those penalties. CFOs understood that it was ultimately their call. They could decide how much risk they were willing to take, and how to design their plans strategically. That’s where compliance shifts from being a headache to a tool for risk management.

The Biggest Myth: “Somebody Else Is Handling It”

One of the most persistent misconceptions I encounter is employers thinking, “I don’t have to worry about this. Somebody else is handling compliance.” This is especially common with the rise of self-funded plans, where employers transition away from fully insured models. But the buck stops with the plan sponsor: the employer. No matter your plan type, the responsibility for compliance ultimately falls on you. That’s a tough pill for many to swallow, but it’s critical to understand—because nobody else is going to do it for you.

Guiding, Educating, and Simplifying the Process

That’s where Borislow comes in. My role, and the role of our compliance team, is to be teachers and guides. Compliance can be overwhelming, especially since the regulations are complex and constantly evolving. My job is to break it down, to make it clear and manageable.

We provide drafts of the necessary disclosures and documents to employers, we educate them about deadlines and what’s required, and we simplify the steps. But at the end of the day, it’s the employer who must finish the job, distributing notices and making sure employees receive what they need.

When compliance is done right, it’s about clearly sharing with employees what benefits are available, how processes work, and what to expect in various situations, like FMLA leave or newborn enrollment deadlines. This transparency creates peace of mind for employees.

Time to Get Your House in Order

With recent federal government staffing changes and fewer resources issuing guidance, it’s a good moment to take a pause. Now is the time for employers to get their compliance foundation solid and prepare for changes that might come in 2026. Use this “quiet period” to educate yourself, shore up your processes, and reduce risk.

Seizing the Opportunity

Compliance often lands on the HR team’s plate, and HR already juggles a million responsibilities. Compliance can feel like just one more thing slowing everything down. But usually, that feeling comes from not knowing what you don’t know. Once you have a partner that educates, guides, and reminds you of deadlines, compliance doesn’t have to be a time drain.

At Borislow, we’re here to simplify that journey, helping employers navigate compliance thoughtfully and confidently. Because at the end of the day, compliance done right isn’t just paperwork; it’s peace of mind.