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
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
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
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
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
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has signed legislation amending the New York City Human Rights Law to prohibit discrimination based on a person’s height or weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The new law...more
New York has released an updated model sexual harassment prevention policy and updated model training materials. The revised model policy increases the emphasis on gender discrimination in the workplace, with a particular...more
In 2022, New York State and New York City enacted many new workplace laws, creating additional obligations for employers.
New York State Legal Updates-
New York State and City COVID-19 Requirements-
In 2022, several...more
1/25/2023
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Health and Essential Rights (HERO) Act ,
Minimum Wage ,
New York ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Pay Transparency ,
Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (“PUMP Act”) ,
Reproductive Healthcare Issues ,
Retaliation ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State Labor Laws ,
Tip Credit ,
Wage and Hour
On November 30, 2022, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) updated its Advisory on Return-to-Work Protocols for Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to Sars-CoV-2. This new guidance...more
On November 21, 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law clarifying that it is unlawful for an employer to penalize an employee for any absence protected under federal, state or local law. (S.1958/A.8092). The law...more
Beginning November 1, 2022, New York City private sector employees will no longer be subject to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
Mayor Eric Adams announced on September 20, 2022, that private employers in New York City...more
The New York State Commissioner of Health rescinded the designation of COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health under the HERO Act” (Health and Essential...more
While most of our focus over the last year has been on COVID-19-related developments, New York State and New York City employers also must ensure compliance with other recent and upcoming legal changes...more
1/27/2022
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Biometric Information ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Fair Workweek ,
Health and Essential Rights (HERO) Act ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Immunization Records ,
Masks ,
Minimum Wage ,
New York ,
NYDOL ,
OSHA ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Posting Requirements ,
Quarantine ,
Recreational Use ,
Religious Accommodation ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
Retirement Plan ,
State Labor Laws ,
Vaccinations ,
Wage Theft ,
Whistleblowers ,
Workplace Safety
Starting December 27, 2021, workers who are onsite in New York City or interact with the public during the course of business are required to show their employer proof of having received at least one dose of a COVID-19...more
Following her announcement of a broad COVID-19 mask mandate for New York businesses effective December 13, 2021, Health Commissioner Mary Bassett has published an order and frequently asked questions clarifying certain...more
The New York State Commissioner of Health designated COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public” on September 6, 2021. Originally set to expire on September 30,...more
After the May passage of the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (HERO Act), and June amendments, the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) has issued guidance including the model general standard and model airborne...more
With 70 percent of adult New Yorkers having received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, as of June 15, 2021, New York lifted restrictions imposed on most industries under the NY Forward and COVID-19 Safety Plan rules that...more
Amendments to New York’s Health and Essential Rights Act (HERO Act) give the state Department of Labor more time, until July 5, 2021, to create industry-specific model safety standards and to clarify when employers must...more
On June 8, 2021, New York State updated the NY Forward Guidance for several industries, including office-based and food services employers, with changes that many people feel are overdue...more
Effective immediately, New York State employers must provide employees with up to four hours of paid time off per COVID-19 vaccination. The new law sunsets on December 31, 2022...more
3/15/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Health and Safety ,
New York ,
Paid Leave ,
Popular ,
State and Local Government ,
Vaccinations ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
The New York State Paid Sick Leave Law and the amendments to the New York City Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law expanding employees’ paid sick leave entitlements will go into full effect on January 1, 2021.
The state law went...more