The 2025 New York State budget includes a provision that reduces the potential damages available to plaintiffs for violation of the weekly pay requirement of the New York Labor Law....more
5/12/2025
/ Class Action ,
Damages ,
Employee Rights ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Litigation ,
Employment Policies ,
Labor Law Violations ,
Labor Reform ,
New Legislation ,
New York ,
State Labor Laws ,
Statutory Interpretation ,
Unpaid Wages ,
Wage and Hour
During the first quarter of 2025, the New York State legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul have been actively advancing several initiatives that – if passed and signed – will require New York employers to adapt their policies...more
4/1/2025
/ Class Action ,
Employee Rights ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Gig Economy ,
Independent Contractors ,
Labor Reform ,
Liquidated Damages ,
New York ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Severance Agreements ,
Severance Pay ,
State Labor Laws ,
Stop Work Orders ,
Wage and Hour
On January 8, 2025, a New York federal court held that an employee’s refusal to sign a confidentiality and non-disparagement acknowledgement form that was part of a settlement agreement rendered the entire settlement...more
The most wonderful time of the year often portends many legal hiccups for the unassuming business. And this year is no different. As the holiday season approaches and we turn the calendar to 2025, New York employers should...more
12/12/2024
/ Employee Benefits ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Labor Reform ,
Minimum Salary ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
New York ,
NYDOL ,
Over-Time ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Pregnancy ,
Retail Market ,
Salaried Employees ,
Sick Leave ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
New York’s highest court, settling a long-standing question dividing state and federal courts, has held that the New York State and City anti-discrimination statutes apply to non-residents who apply for jobs that would be...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: A legislative proposal by the Governor, and a new appellate court decision, may have significant ramifications for weekly pay litigation in New York state and federal courts....more
1/19/2024
/ Class Action ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Liquidated Damages ,
New York ,
Private Right of Action ,
Proposed Amendments ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unpaid Wages ,
Wage and Hour
Seyfarth Synopsis: New York State formally adopted regulations increasing the salary thresholds for minimum wage and overtime exemptions for “executive” or “administrative” employee under the New York Labor Law. Employers...more
12/28/2023
/ Employees ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Labor Reform ,
Minimum Wage ,
New York ,
NYDOL ,
Over-Time ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
State Labor Laws ,
Threshold Requirements ,
Unpaid Overtime ,
White-Collar Exemptions
Seyfarth Synopsis: Efforts to prohibit non-compete agreements in New York State are back to square one following Governor Hochul’s veto of an outright ban in late December 2023....more
12/27/2023
/ Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Governor Vetoes ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Labor Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New York ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
State Labor Laws
Seyfarth Synopsis: The New York State Assembly has joined the State Senate in passing legislation to prohibit non-compete clauses in employment contracts. The bill now heads to the Governor and, if signed into law, would void...more
12/27/2023
/ Contract Terms ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Governor Vetoes ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Labor Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New York ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws
Seyfarth Synopsis: We recently reported here that New York adopted an increased salary threshold of $1,300 per week for determining whether an employee serves in an “executive,” “administrative,” or “professional” capacity...more
eyfarth Synopsis: Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a bill amending Section 590 of the New York Labor Law to require employers to provide employees, upon separation, with notice of their right to file for unemployment benefits...more
New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed legislation (S.B. 5572) that, effective March 13, 2024, will change the salary threshold governing various exemptions under Article 6 of the New York Labor Law (“NYLL”)....more
10/6/2023
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Exempt-Employees ,
Labor Reform ,
Minimum Salary ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
New York ,
Non-Exempt Employees ,
Over-Time ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
White-Collar Exemptions
Seyfarth Synopsis: New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation that, effective immediately, adds wage theft to the definition of “larceny” under the state’s penal code, creating potentially harsh penalties for the...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The New York State Assembly has joined the State Senate in passing legislation to prohibit non-compete clauses in employment contracts. The bill now heads to the Governor and, if signed into law, would void...more
6/29/2023
/ Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Labor Reform ,
New York ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
State Labor Laws
Seyfarth Synopsis: Like the New York City Council, the New York State legislature is considering a bill to effectively abolish at-will employment. If passed, the State bill would prohibit employers from discharging employees...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Beginning January 1, 2024, the minimum wage across New York State will gradually increase to account for the rising cost of living....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Legislators in New York City and State are considering several bills that could impact employers’ daily operations in the Empire State. The bills would broaden discrimination protections, require mandatory...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: In December 2022, New York’s Governor signed several pieces of legislation impacting New York employers, most notably laws regulating lactation accommodation in the workplace and the electronic posting and...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: At the close of the New York State legislative session on June 2, 2022, the Senate and Assembly passed a variety of employment-related bills that are now waiting to be delivered to Governor Kathy Hochul. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As they have each year since 2016, the minimum wage and exempt salary threshold will increase for certain New York employers effective December 31, 2021....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Under a new statute, New York employers are required to notify employees if they intend to monitor their company-controlled phones, email, or internet use....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The deadline for employers to distribute their airborne disease prevention safety plan and post the plan in the workplace is approaching. ...more
The New York State Legislature is keeping busy with new employment legislation as the local and national economies continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As they have each year since 2016, the minimum wage and exempt salary threshold will increase for New York employers effective December 31, 2020. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The law requiring New York employers to provide leave for certain employees affected by COVID-19 went into effect on March 18. The State has released updated FAQs that provide some clarification on the law....more