As we wrap up 2025 and look toward 2026, one theme rises above the rest: employers are navigating a workplace landscape that is more volatile, more tech-driven, and more globally interconnected than ever before.

From sweeping regulatory shifts to the acceleration of AI, the past year brought rapid change at a pace few could have imagined. And we’re proud our team was there to help you meet each challenge head-on.

That’s why the FP Forecast remains one of our most valuable resources. In the pages that follow, you’ll find clear, practical summaries of the major developments that reshaped the workplace in 2025, along with the action steps employers should take to stay compliant, competitive, and resilient.

You’ll also see our attorneys’ best predictions for 2026 across just about every practice area and industry we serve.

These insights come directly from the people who are working side-by-side with you every day: defending complex litigation, crafting compliance strategies, negotiating with regulators, guiding high-stakes transactions, and helping your workforce thrive.

Amid all this turbulence, one thing remains constant: you can count on us to bring clarity. Our goal is to help you understand what happened, prepare for what’s coming next, and build the strategies you need to succeed in 2026 and beyond.

We hope you enjoy this year’s FP Forecast and use it as a roadmap for the year ahead.

And as always, we’ll be ready to support you every step of the way with the sharp, practical, business-minded guidance you’ve come to expect from Fisher Phillips.

Here’s to navigating what comes next, together.

Click here to access the full FP Forecast 2026 report

John Polson is the Chairman and Managing Partner of Fisher Phillips and leads the firm’s Management Committee which serves as the firm’s board of directors. He is Co-Chair of the firm’s PEO Industry Team.

John has a diverse practice that includes compliance, litigation, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, and startup representation. He is a trusted advisor to Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) as well as clients in the staffing and human resources outsourcing industries. He also represents gig economy and related businesses with respect to independent contractor status and issues unique to freelancing platforms.

John has represented PEO and staffing clients in a broad range of litigation and appellate matters. In addition to a wide array of labor and employment related litigation, he has handled cases involving unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, contractual disputes, and third-party claims related to employment. He has extensive experience providing advice and counsel on joint employer, co-employer, and other employer status issues.

John is a member and past Chair of the Legal Advisory Council of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO). He has served as a Professional Advisory Director for the Employer Services Assurance Corporation and as an Instructor in the University of California Irvine Human Resources Certificate Program.

John is "AV" Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. The Best Lawyers in America publication has included John since 2008 and named him “Lawyer of the Year” in Employment Law – Management for Orange County, CA in 2021, 2022 and 2024.