Legislative Updates

As of 12/31/2017, the Minimum Wage in New York State has increased as indicated in the table below. Location Wage Rate* New York State $10.40 Nassau, Suffolk & Westchester $11.00 New York City - 10 or less employees $12.00 New York City - 11 or more employees $13.00 *There are different hourly rates for workers in the fast food industry and those who receive tips. Click here to access summaries of...

Starting January 1, 2018, nearly all private employees in New York State are eligible for Paid Family Leave (PFL). PFL provides New Yorkers job-protected, paid leave to bond with a new child, care for a loved one with a serious health condition or to help relieve family pressures when someone is called to active military service. As an employer: Ensure your company has PFL coverage Update your payroll...

In July 2017, USCIS released the newly revised I-9 form, used to verify employment. This form will be mandatory for all US employers starting September 18th, 2017. Employers must begin using the revised I-9 form by September 18th, 2017 in order to avoid fines and penalties. Although current storage and retention regulations remain the same, there are some alterations with the new I-9 form. The new form streamlines...

On May 30, 2017, NYC enacted a law aimed at improving working conditions related to employee work schedules. The law will go into effect on November 26, 2017. Under the regulation, no later than the date a new fast food employee receives their first work schedule, the employer must provide them with a good faith estimate in writing setting forth the number of hours a fast food employee can expect to work per week...

In 2016, legislation was passed in NYS to enact an 8-week Paid Family Leave (PFL) program scheduled to go into effect in January of 2018. For these purposes, a family member is defined as a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, spouse or domestic partner. The definition of a "serious health condition" is similar to the definition under the FMLA. Unless an employer chooses to permit otherwise, any PFL benefit must...

On May 5th 2017, New York City's Mayor Bill de Blasio passed a bill prohibiting employers from inquiring about or relying on an applicant's salary history. Under the local law, it is now considered illegal and discriminatory for an employer, employment agency, or employee to inquire about the salary history of a prospective employee and/or to rely on the salary history of a prospective employee in determining...

In 2016, legislation was passed in NYS to enact a 12-week Paid Family Leave (PFL) program scheduled to go into effect in January of 2018. For these purposes, a family member is defined as a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, spouse or domestic partner. The definition of a "serious health condition" is similar to the definition under the FMLA. Unless an employer chooses to permit otherwise, any PFL benefit must...

On April 3rd, 2017 President Trump signed into law House Joint Resolution 83 (H.J. Res. 83), which declares the "Volks Rule" reviewed below invalid and no longer in effect. Effective January 1st, 2017, OSHA required employers to submit their injury and illness reports electronically so that they could be uploaded to OSHA’s website, for the public to view. Establishments with 250 or more employees in industries...

Please be advised that the deadline for filing W-2s and 1099s with the Social Security Administration is Tuesday, January 31st. Employers with 249 or less W-2s may file these forms either electronically or hard copy and employers with 250 or more W-2s must do so electronically. Employers must also provide copies of W-2s to their employees by January 31st. If you are filing form 1099-MISC and reporting amounts in Box...

As of December 31st, 2016 minimum wage increases went into effect for New York State. As of January 1st, 2017 minimum wage increases went into effect in the state of New Jersey along with 17 other states across the country. New York City's minimum wage requirements for employers with 11 or more employees must pay non-tipped employees $11.00 an hour, and tipped employees at least $8.30 or $9.35 an hour. New York...