I’m currently playing the game of finding a specific login for a particular state so I can update certain forms. This means looking through emails, files, old PEOs, and other materials. I’ve asked my CEO to search through his inbox. I’m essentially praying to all of the higher spirits to find this damn login.

Certain states require you to update your information to ensure continuous insurance coverage across different areas, such as unemployment. So, re: it’s important.

While the end of the year tends to carry both merriment with sprinkles of urgency, it also means packing in and filing as much state compliance documentation possible. This is before you even get to next year’s planning, budgeting, and whatever else you need to jumpstart the new year that’s happening in two weeks. Oh yeah, and setting up structures for the upcoming tax year because, duh.

I also have 10 open roles and am currently hiring for a people ops role. I also have a handful of new hires starting on the first day we return in the new year. Busy is an understatement.

I know there’s rhyme and reason for the forms, but why is it so painful to fill them out?

For Leave of Absences, we’ve partnered with a platform that streamlines the process by collecting all necessary forms and sending notices/reminders to the appropriate parties. I’m reviewing payslips and need to submit x, y, and z. Understanding what Metlife approves and doesn’t. It also sends reminders about reconciling payroll, which is nice, but the act itself sucks so much. That would be my feedback to all of the state governments: please stop sucking so much.

In interviewing people ops candidates, I’ve been able to commiserate with folks on navigating these often brutal, unclear, and exhausting paths, all in the name of compliance. Of course, if you don’t do it right, there are significant consequences like fees and penalties, and, overall, just a ton of risk to gamble with. So, the name of the game is to reduce risk as much as possible.

While writing this, I’ve now shifted into being on hold with California’s EDD because Justworks is shifting its model – nothing like scrambling to find company info that’s probably dated and having to update it.

Reader, I am dying slowly. I meant to send this newsletter last week, but alas, my brain is barely functioning. So, I’m complaining gratefully because this is a job of privilege, but one that’s also really hard.

I know somewhere out there, my fractional CPO, is chuckling.

If you need me, I’m still clicking around, probably on hold.

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You can always deflect the conversation during awkward family moments over the holidays. It’s called self-preservation.