The recently released 2025 Becker’s-Propelus State of Workforce Compliance survey report reveals that operational disruptions and insurance spikes now rival regulatory fines as top concerns.
For years, the primary conversation around workforce compliance was simple: “Don’t get fined.”
But if you are working in healthcare Human Resources (HR) or operations today, you know the reality is much more complex. To understand this shift, Propelus® partnered with Becker’s Hospital Review to survey 100 healthcare leaders on the real-world impacts of non-compliance. The results challenge the traditional view of workforce compliance risk.
While 37% of leaders still cited fines as a top impact, they are now equally worried about operational disruptions (39%), increased insurance premiums (37%), and reputational damage (37%). The threat landscape hasn’t just grown; it’s flattened.
Here are three things the data tells us about the state of the industry, and what it means for you.
1. Disruption edges out penalties
It’s telling that in a list of severe financial penalties, the number one cited consequence for non-compliance was arguably the most practical one: Operational Disruption.
Fines are an event; disruption is a daily reality. The data shows that compliance gaps are now primarily felt in the “scramble”—the shift left uncovered, the transfer delayed, or the specialist pulled from the schedule.
The Takeaway: Workforce compliance isn’t just about keeping regulators away; it’s about keeping your doors open and your staff on the schedule.
2. The “hidden” risk tax
The survey revealed a statistical tie between regulatory fines (37%) and insurance premium hikes (37%) as impacts of non-compliance. This is a critical insight for leadership.
While you may go years without a major regulatory fine, insurance premiums are a recurring fixed cost. If your workforce compliance data is incomplete or difficult to validate, that uncertainty becomes risk, and risk gets priced into premiums year after year.
The Takeaway: You are likely paying for non-compliance even when you aren’t being fined.
3. Reputation is currency
Reputational damage also ranked equally with financial penalties. This confirms that healthcare leaders view their brand standing as an asset worth just as much as their cash reserves.
In a tight labor market, your reputation is also your recruiting engine. Protecting it is just as critical as protecting your bank account.
The Takeaway: Compliance is no longer just a legal box to check; it’s a recruitment and retention strategy.
Navigating the new landscape
The data confirms that the compliance landscape is changing. The impacts of non-compliance are wider, faster, and more connected than they were five years ago. Yet, 43% of surveyed leaders are still relying on manual tracking to navigate this new terrain. This reliance on old processes is creating a significant confidence gap, where 77% of respondents said they lack high confidence in their organization’s compliance status.
The good news? Leaders already know the answer.
When asked what they would do if budget were not a constraint, 60% said they would automate workforce credentialing and compliance management. Their top motivation wasn’t avoiding fines; it was increasing visibility (57%).
Healthcare leaders don’t want to wait for the next ‘gotcha’ moment. They want to replace the guesswork with a complete picture that keeps them clear, confident, and empowered.
As Propelus CEO Julie Walker puts it: “Proactive and automated workforce compliance management isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a need-to-have.”
Ready to see the full picture? Stop paying the hidden costs of non-compliance. Download the full 2025 survey report to benchmark your organization, or see how Propelus EverCheck can automate the visibility you need today.