6 Important End-of-Year Reminders Employees Need Now

Wrapping up end-of-year tasks is no small feat — so the month of December can feel like a mad rush for HR pros.

If you want to get a head start, now’s a good time to send employees an initial reminder about their year-end list of things to do. And then plan to send a few additional reminders to make sure everything gets done before we ring in the new year.

To reduce some of that exhausting back-and-forth, give employees a checklist of the tasks they need to complete before January. Here are six reminders to help employees close out the year strong.

HR’s End-of-Year Checklist for Employees

The end-of-year rush can be hectic for everyone, so it’s essential to notify employees of what you need from them to avoid unnecessary stress.

These reminders, courtesy of Shelly Michaels, director, people business partner group at Justworks, can help employees tackle year-end tasks with confidence. 

1. Verify Personal Info

Remind employees to verify their personal information to ensure it’s up to date, including details like:

• Physical address
• Phone number
• Email address, and
• Social Security number. 

Verifying employee information is essential for year-end reporting, as well as preparing tax forms in the new year. Getting this done now can help prevent headaches during tax season.

“Double-checking now can prevent errors that might require tax return corrections later,” says Michaels.

2. Review Tax Withholding Information

Give employees a nudge to review their tax withholding information. You may want to remind them to be extra careful with their review if their financial situation has changed or if they’ve had a life-changing event, such as a marriage or the addition of a child into the family.

When talking to employees, remind them that this ensures their tax obligations are reflected accurately in their paychecks and can help them avoid surprises when tax season comes around. 

You can also provide helpful tools, such as the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.

3. Confirm Final 401(k) Contributions

In the same vein as taxes, it’s important to jog employees’ memories about 401(k) contributions before the end of the year. 

Remind employees to coordinate their year-end contributions before contribution limits reset in the new year. It might also be a good idea to remind employees about the pre-tax benefits of their 401(k) as they plan contributions for the new year. 

You can also remind employees about the new contribution limits for 2025. 

4. Spend FSA Funds

If employees have a flexible spending account (FSA), it’s a good idea to remind them to use their funds before December 31. You may want to include a list of items they can purchase with FSA funds, including: 

• Prescriptions
• Vaccinations
• OTC medications
• Deductibles, and
• Co-payments.

As a bonus, remind employees to explore eligible items at the FSA Store to make the most of their benefits.

Also, if your FSA plan has a grace period to use leftover funds into 2025, remind employees that the maximum carryover amount to 2025 is $660, as per a recent IRS announcement.

While you’re on the subject, give employees a heads-up that any carryover funds must be used by March 15, 2025.

5. Double-Check PTO Balance 

If your company has a use-it-or-lose-it PTO policy, it’s important to send a few reminders for employees to use their days as the end of the year approaches. 

Remind employees to verify their PTO balance, and if possible, encourage them to consider taking a day off to recharge and relax before all the stress of the new year. 

“If your PTO will expire, discuss with your manager to plan a well-deserved mental health day or staycation,” Michaels suggests. 

6. Complete Wellness Program Initiatives

Encourage employees to take advantage of any wellness programs, whether it’s completing health screenings, fitness challenges or mental health initiatives that wrap up in December.

Under many benefit offerings, employees are eligible for perks, like stipends or gift cards, if they complete certain criteria. Prod employees to complete outstanding items so they don’t leave any money on the table in 2024.