New York’s two-year 2025-2026 legislative session hit its midpoint in June, with lawmakers wrapping up the first year by passing a slew of workplace-related bills that now await action from Governor Hochul. As federal labor...more
7/3/2025
/ Age Discrimination ,
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Severance Agreements ,
State Labor Laws ,
Statute of Limitations ,
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Wage and Hour ,
Waiver of Rights ,
Workplace Safety ,
Workplace Violence ,
Workplace Violence Prevention Programs
New York City employers must take note of recent changes to the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA) that are about to take effect. The new ESSTA rules provide important clarity on the statewide paid prenatal leave...more
New York employers will see three significant workplace laws come into effect in June, and retail, warehouse, and fashion industry employers throughout the state need to take notice. You’ll face new requirements for workplace...more
5/30/2025
/ Employee Rights ,
Employee Training ,
Employment Contract ,
Employment Policies ,
Fashion Industry ,
Hiring & Firing ,
New Legislation ,
New York ,
Retail Workers ,
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Warehouses ,
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Workplace Violence Prevention Programs
Employers in New York State and New York City face unique challenges given all the new workplace laws that are passed each year – and 2024 was no different. Indeed, multiple bills were enacted in the past year that will raise...more
1/31/2025
/ Employee Benefits ,
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Employment Policies ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Minimum Wage ,
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New York ,
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Nursing employees now have the right to paid break time to express breast milk during the workday under a New York State law that took effect June 19. This move underscores Governor Hochul’s push for legislation supporting...more
7/15/2024
/ Breastfeeding ,
Employee Rights ,
Employment Policies ,
Guidance Update ,
Lactation Accommodation ,
New York ,
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NYDOL ,
Rest and Meal Break ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
A new report released this week revealed that three out of four knowledge workers use AI for work purposes – but more than half are hiding it from their leaders because they fear it makes them look replaceable. The May 8...more
Continuing a years’ long trend of extensive alterations to workplace laws, New York State and New York City continued to enact new workplace legislation impacting employers. A substantial number of enacted bills in the past...more
1/11/2024
/ Employee Benefits ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Freelance Workers ,
Minimum Wage ,
New York ,
Pay Transparency ,
State Labor Laws ,
Tip Credit ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wage Theft ,
Workplace Safety
The impact of cannabis on the workplace continues to evolve as more states legalize its use. One such example is increasing protection for workers’ off duty cannabis use. How will these changes affect your workplace? Here is...more
After a few years of rapid and expansive change to New York’s workplace laws, involving adjustments to workplace safety, employee pay, benefits, and privacy, there was a noticeable slowdown for the state legislature this past...more
1/5/2023
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
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Health and Essential Rights (HERO) Act ,
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Leave of Absence ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
New York ,
Nurses ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Pay Transparency ,
Posting Requirements ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Recruitment Policies ,
Salaried Employees ,
Sexual Abuse ,
State Labor Laws ,
Tip Credit ,
Tipped Employees ,
Vaccinations ,
Wage and Hour ,
Warehouses ,
Workers' Compensation Claim ,
Workplace Safety
Year two of the COVID-19 pandemic brought many new legislative changes for New York employers, altering the landscape around workplace safety, employee pay, leave benefits, protected classes and activity, and privacy. Now...more
12/29/2021
/ Amended Legislation ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
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Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
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Wage and Hour ,
Whistleblower Protection Policies ,
Whistleblowers ,
Workplace Safety
New York employers have been anxiously awaiting additional information about how the legalization of recreational marijuana will impact the workplace – and they finally have some. The state’s Office of Cannabis Management...more
New York employers must take immediate steps to comply with statutory requirements aimed at preventing the spread of infectious disease in the workplace. As previously reported, in May New York State passed the NY HERO Act,...more
7/20/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Policies ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
State Labor Laws ,
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Workplace Safety
Recreational use of cannabis or marijuana is now legal in New York State. On March 31, Governor Cuomo signed into law the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act. The legalization of cannabis will have significant short and...more
4/8/2021
/ Adverse Employment Action ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Cannabis Products ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Drug Testing ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
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Governor Cuomo ,
Marijuana ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Recreational Use
New York employees are likely to soon receive paid leave to take their COVID-19 vaccination. One month after the New York State Assembly passed the bill, the New York State Senate unanimously voted 62-0 on March 1 to grant...more