Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, all private-sector employers in New York must provide eligible employees 20 hours of paid prenatal leave. An amendment to the New York Paid Sick Leave Law (Labor Law Section 196-b) mandates employers...more
Voters in several states made decisions on key employment mandates on election day. These results will have significant implications for employers, particularly in terms of compliance and day-to-day operational issues. Below...more
While employers may not think about election days vis-à-vis labor and employment law obligations, this year, there are several states with ballot measures where voters will decide employment mandates. Issues for voters...more
As election day 2024 approaches, it is crucial that employers are aware of and comply with state law requirements on employee rights to voting leave. While not all states impose obligations on employers, many states do...more
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Retail Worker Safety Act (S. 8358B/A. 8947C) into law on Sept. 4, 2024. The Act will require covered retail employers to:
1.Adopt a retail workplace violence prevention policy...more
The New York State Department of Labor has issued revised materials, including an updated mandatory model policy, ahead of the June 19, 2024, effective date for the transition of workplace lactation breaks from unpaid to paid...more
The New York State enacted budget for fiscal year 2024 changes employers’ obligations by adding paid leave for prenatal care, converting unpaid break time for purposes of expressing breast milk into paid time, and...more
Delivery platform companies must pay delivery workers in New York City a minimum rate of at least $19.56 per hour, Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) announced on April...more
The New York Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) published the “Workers’ Bill of Rights” on March 1, 2024. The Workers’ Bill of Rights is meant to serve as a comprehensive guide to rights in the workplace in...more
New York State and City law already impose a myriad of posting and notice distribution requirements on New York City employers. Beginning July 1, 2024, New York City employers must distribute to employees and “conspicuously...more
The New York State Department of Labor has approved and made final its proposed regulations to align the state’s industry-specific regulatory wage requirements with the upcoming legislatively approved increases in the state...more
New York City is the first major U.S. city to implement a minimum pay-rate for app-based restaurant delivery workers. Delivery platform companies should immediately pay delivery workers the minimum pay rate of at least $17.96...more
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed bills enacting the Freelance Isn’t Free Act, extending the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit alleging unlawful discriminatory practices, and barring the inclusion of liquidated...more
The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has issued proposed regulations to align the state’s industry-specific wage requirements with the upcoming increases in the state minimum wage.
In May 2023, Governor Kathy...more
On September 15, 2023, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (“DCWP”) issued a final rule (“Final Rule”) on the City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (“ESSTA”).
As summarized below, the Final Rule...more
New York City is still undertaking efforts to become the first major U.S. city to implement a minimum pay-rate for app-based restaurant delivery workers.
The new law was initially scheduled to go into effect July 12, 2023....more
Pay transparency obligations are in effect in New York State, and the state Department of Labor has issued employer guidance and proposed regulations.
As of September 17, 2023, covered employers must include in any...more
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul continues to sign legislation emanating from a busy legislative session, including legislation rendering contractual assignment-of-inventions provisions unenforceable, prohibiting...more
9/25/2023
/ Assignment of Inventions ,
Business Property ,
Carve Out Provisions ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
New Legislation ,
New York ,
Separation ,
Social Media ,
Trade Secrets ,
Unemployment Insurance ,
Written Notice
During a busy term at the New York Legislature, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation prohibiting captive audience meetings, categorizing wage theft as larceny, and expanding protection of “gender identity or expression”...more
Employers are reminded that the New York State Pay Transparency Law goes into effect Sept. 17, 2023.
Covered employers in New York State will have new pay transparency obligations related to job advertisements. Covered...more
The National Labor Relations Board has again revised its standard for assessing whether an employer’s facially neutral work rules (rules that do not explicitly restrict Section 7 activities) unlawfully restrict employee...more
The 2023 New York State Legislature recently concluded its legislative session (after being called back for two weeks to consider certain pieces of legislation). The session ended with a flurry of activity relevant to...more
7/27/2023
/ Assignment of Inventions ,
Criminal Convictions ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Freelance Isn't Free Act (FIFA) ,
Freelance Workers ,
Gender Identity ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
New York ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Sealed Records ,
Settlement Agreements ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unemployment Benefits ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wage Theft
New York City was on track to becoming the first major U.S. city to implement a minimum pay-rate for app-based restaurant delivery workers. However, the new law, which was scheduled to go into effect July 12, 2023, has been...more
Governor Josh Green has signed the newest pay transparency bill into law for the state of Hawaii. SB 1057, which goes into effect on January 1, 2024, will require Hawaii employers with at least 50 employees to disclose an...more
The New York State Assembly and Senate have overwhelmingly passed the Freelance Isn’t Free Act (A.6040). The legislation heads to Governor Kathy Hochul’s office for her to sign or veto.
The State Senate passed S.5026 by a...more