Labor penalties will not rise with inflation next year, thanks to missing data

The Department of Labor will not increase its civil penalties for inflation in 2026. This means companies that violate labor, safety, or wage laws will pay penalties that are effectively lower in real terms.

The Department of Labor usually increases its civil penalties each year. This keeps the penalties a real deterrent. But the government could not collect specific inflation data this year. So, the real cost of violating labor laws will drop slightly for 2026.