An L&D leader's guide to regulatory compliance training in the United States

Compliance training often feels like a box to check—but for L&D leaders, it's an opportunity to protect people, build credibility with employees, and strengthen partnerships with compliance and HR teams. 

Regulations like sexual harassment prevention by state, ADA, Title VII, FMLA, and HIPAA change constantly, making compliance training feel like a full-time job. L&D professionals often need to wear many different hats—like helping the business navigate change and build critical capabilities. But staying ahead of the curve isn’t easy when you're pulled in different directions. Between urgent training requests, compliance deadlines, and shifting priorities, it can feel impossible to step back and lead with confidence. 

We know it’s not easy to keep up. That’s why we’ve put together a list of common regulations HR and L&D leaders are often responsible for—to help you get started with compliance training.  

When it comes to building a general compliance training program, we see most customers prioritizing the essentials—HR compliance, financial compliance, and ethics, data privacy and cybersecurity, and workplace health and safety. 

Not sure where to start? Keep reading for a list of common US regulations that companies typically need to cover. 

1. HR Compliance: Preventing discrimination and harassment 

HR compliance laws and regulations require employers to train employees on workplace conduct, anti-discrimination policies, and employee rights. State-specific training is also essential, especially for harassment prevention laws in states like California, New York, Connecticut, and more. 

Key Topics: 

• Harassment prevention (state-specific requirements) 
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) 
• Anti-discrimination laws 
• Workplace violence prevention 
• Family and medical leave policies 

Common Regulations: 

• SB 1343 California Harassment Law 
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) 
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) 
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) 

2. Ethics and Financial compliance: Reducing fraud and corruption 

From preventing insider trading to adhering to anti-bribery laws, financial compliance training ensures that employees act ethically and avoid legal violations. Regulations also require companies to implement fraud prevention and whistleblower protections. 

Key Topics: 

• Anti-bribery and corruption 
• Insider trading and financial conduct  
• Anti-money laundering 
• Fraud detection and whistleblower protections 
• Conflicts of interest and risk management 

Common Regulations: 

• Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) 
• Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) 
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) 
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML) 
• Know Your Customer (KYC) 

3. Data privacy and cybersecurity: Protecting sensitive information 

With cyber threats on the rise, companies must train employees to handle sensitive data properly. These regulations mandate data protection measures to prevent breaches and ensure consumer privacy. 

Key Topics: 

• Handling sensitive data (HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA) 
• Mitigating cybersecurity threats 
• Phishing and social engineering awareness 
• Multi-factor authentication 
• Incident reporting and management 

Common Regulations: 

• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) 
• California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) 
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 
• Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act) 
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) 

4. Workplace health and safety: Meeting OSHA standards 

From fire safety to emergency preparedness, workplace safety training ensures employees can identify hazards and respond effectively in crises. OSHA regulations set the foundation for workplace safety, requiring training on topics like ergonomics, first aid, and proper equipment handling. 

Key Topics: 

• Workplace fire safety 
• Emergency action plans 
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) 
• First aid and CPR certification 
• OSHA regulatory compliance 

Common Regulations: 

• Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 
• Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Standard (29 CFR 1910.38) 
• Fire Safety (29 CFR 1910.157) 
• First Aid and CPR (29 CFR 1910.151) 

Compliance training doesn’t have to be clunky or complicated. The smarter way? One subscription that pulls trusted content from hundreds of providers into one place—always current, always compliant. No more chasing down vendors or wondering if your team’s training is up to date. With streamlined reporting and built-in integrations, Go1 makes staying audit-ready the easiest part of your job. 

To go a step further, check out our downloadable US Regulation Guide for a simple guide to key US compliance regulations with Go1's recommended training content.

Disclaimer: This publication is intended only to provide a summary and general overview of matters of interest. It is not intended to be comprehensive, nor does it constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. We attempt to ensure that the publication is current, but we do not guarantee its currency or accuracy. You should seek legal or other professional advice before acting or relying on any of the information to verify its accuracy, completeness, and relevance to your situation. We are not responsible to you or anyone else for any loss suffered in connection with the use of this publication.