Pre-Season Prep: August is the Key to Winning Year-End

When football pre-season kicks off, players aren’t chasing trophies just yet. They’re hitting the field to prepare. It’s weeks of fine-tuning the playbook, practicing teamwork, and making sure everyone is ready when the games actually count.

For HR and operations leaders, August is your pre-season. It’s the perfect moment to set the stage for clean execution during open enrollment, ACA compliance, and time-off policy management.

Why Pre-Season Matters

In football, the teams that shine in November and December are the ones that put in the work in August. The same is true in the workplace. Organizations that start preparing now will be the ones executing smoothly come year-end, while others scramble under pressure.

The Risks of Waiting Until “Game Day”

Waiting until Q4 to address compliance, benefits, and policies is like showing up on opening day without practice:

• Missed deadlines = penalties and compliance headaches

• Overwhelmed HR teams = burned-out staff and rushed work

• Confused employees = mistakes and frustration during open enrollment

Your August Pre-Season Checklist

Here’s how to make sure your team is ready before the season officially begins:

1. Audit Your Playbook (Policies & Procedures)
   Review time-off, leave, and benefits policies to ensure they align with compliance requirements and business needs.

2. Avoid Penalties (ACA Compliance Review)
   Double-check that ACA tracking and reporting are accurate before deadlines loom.

3. Perfect the Roster (Time-Off Calendars)
   Balance employee requests with business operations so you’re not short-staffed during critical periods.

4. Call the Right Plays (Communication)
   Begin messaging to employees now so they know what to expect when open enrollment arrives. Clear communication reduces confusion and mistakes.

Winning the Season Ahead

Football teams don’t win championships on game day alone. They win them through the discipline, planning, and preparation that happens behind the scenes. HR teams are no different.

By using August as your pre-season, you’ll avoid costly mistakes, keep your employees engaged, and set your organization up for a stress-free, successful fall.

The work you put in now determines whether Q4 feels like a championship run or a scramble to the finish line.