In 2019, as in previous years, most of the new labor and employment law legislation was enacted at the state and local level.
Paid Family Leave-
Paid family leave statutes gained momentum:
As of July 1, 2019, the...more
1/20/2020
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Gender Identity ,
Hairstyle Discrimination ,
Local Ordinance ,
Marijuana ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Minimum Wage ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Paid Leave ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
While courts have generally interpreted the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) as providing anti-discrimination protections to individuals performing services as independent contractors, effective in January 2020,...more
Intro 1445-A became effective on May 10, 2019. It is the first of its kind law in the United States, prohibiting New York City employers from requiring prospective employees to submit to testing for the presence of...more
Effective March 4, 2019, private employers in New York’s Westchester County will be restricted from inquiring about a job applicant’s criminal background during the preliminary stages of the application process.
Employers...more
New York’s Suffolk County is the latest local jurisdiction to adopt legislation prohibiting employers from asking about the prior salary histories of prospective employees. The salary history ban amends the Suffolk County...more
Beginning July 1, 2018, employers in Vermont will be prohibited from requiring a prospective employee to disclose his or her salary and benefit history under legislation (H.B. 294) signed by Governor Phil Scott on May 11,...more
Amendments to the New York City “Earned Safe and Sick Time Act” (ESTA) went into effect on May 5, 2018. Eligible employees under the ESTA will be able to use paid time off for circumstances resulting from the employee or a...more
State and local jurisdictions have continued to consider and enact legislation restricting employers from inquiring about a job applicant’s criminal background during the initial stages of the application process. Two of the...more
Starting on October 16, 2018, entities covered by the New York City Human Rights Law (HRL) will be required to engage in cooperative dialogue with individuals who may be entitled to reasonable accommodations under the HRL. ...more
Starting on July 18, 2018, New York City employers will be required to provide temporary schedule changes to employees for a “personal event.”
Int. 1399-A became law on January 19, 2018, after Mayor Bill de Blasio failed...more
Enforcement of the Fast Food Deductions provisions in New York City’s Fair Workweek Law has been stayed by a federal judge pending resolution of a constitutional challenge brought by two restaurant advocacy groups.
The...more
The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) on November 27, 2017, announced in a press release that the Fair Workweek Law applicable to fast food and retail employers became effective on November 26. The Law is...more
The federal minimum wage has remained stagnant at $7.25 an hour since 2009. In the absence of an increase to the federal minimum wage, an increasing number of states, cities, and other municipalities have enacted statutes...more
The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has issued proposed rules for the implementation of the Fair Workweek Law in an attempt to clarify and assist employers with compliance. The Law is intended to reform...more
New York City’s Earned Sick Time Act (also known as the Paid Sick Leave Law) will require employers to allow employees to use paid time off for “Safe Time” under an amendment (Int. 1313-A) passed by the New York City Council...more
Effective October 31, 2017, New York City employers generally may not inquire about or rely upon a job applicant’s salary history in making employment decisions. The New York City Commission on Human Rights (NYCCHR)...more
Although New York City’s “ban the box” law, the Fair Chance Act (“FCA”), went into effect close to two years ago, the New York City Commission on Human Rights’ final regulations became effective on August 5, 2017. These...more
New legislation introduced in the New York City Council would add a private right of action to the Earned Sick Time Act (Introduction 1667) and prohibit employers from entering into a covenant not to compete with any low-wage...more
The Workers’ Compensation Board adopted the final regulations for New York’s new Paid Family Leave Benefits Law (PFL) on July 19, 2017. Final Regulations were issued previously by the Department of Financial Services on May...more
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law on May 4, 2017, legislation that will prohibit employers from inquiring about, relying upon, and verifying a job applicant’s salary history. The bill, authored by New York...more
Philadelphia’s Wage History Ordinance may not go into effect as scheduled on May 23, 2017. It is subject to a federal court stay pending resolution of a lawsuit for a preliminary injunction brought by the Chamber of Commerce...more
The Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (“FCIHO”) went into effect on January 22, 2017. The Bureau of Contract Administration (BCA), the Designated Administrative Agency responsible for enforcing the...more
With the federal minimum wage stalled at $7.25 an hour since 2009, states, counties, and local governments have increasingly stepped in and passed legislation raising the minimum wage above the federal level. Because federal...more
Los Angeles is the latest in a growing list of jurisdictions to adopt an ordinance restricting employers from asking a job applicant about his or her criminal history during the application process. Under the Ordinance,...more
The New York City Council continues its pro-worker efforts. The latest include proposed legislation (i) providing protections against non-payment of wages for freelance workers and (ii) expanding the list of permitted reasons...more