On December 29, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law amendments to the New York Wage Theft Prevention Act (the “WTPA”). Bill A08106C (Assembly), S05885-B (Senate). Most notably, the amendments eliminate the WTPA’s annual wage notice requirement and increase the penalties associated with violations of the WTPA. The New York State Department of Labor has announced that the elimination of the annual notice requirement will take effect immediately, meaning that employers need not provide employees with annual notices in 2015. For general background on the WTPA’s requirements, see our December 2010 client alert.

- Key Amendments to the WTPA

- Notable amendments to the WTPA include:

1) Elimination of the annual wage notice requirement. Employers are no longer required to provide all employees with a wage rate notice on or before February 1 of each year. Employers are still required to provide new employees with the notice. As noted above, the Department of Labor has stated that it “will not require annual statements in 2015.”