December 3, 2020

Changes to New York Employment Laws to Have Lasting Impact, Says Law360

Edging toward the end of the year, it’s traditionally the time to take stock of the things that happened over the past 12 months. This year is obviously special as the landscape, from political economy to social life has changed so dramatically for many people. Employment law is no exception and this week Law 360 published a helpful guide to how the pandemic has changed employment law in New York and what kinds of impacts those changes will have into 2021 and beyond.

The most high-profile change was the expansion of paid sick leave in the state was well as New York City. In September, the state law on sick leave took effect which meant employees can begin to accrue paid sick leave time which will be available beginning January 1, 2020. The sick leave can be used by employees who need to care for a family member’s physical or mental health as well as the provide assistance to those who have been the victims of domestic abuse, family or sexual offense, human trafficking, or stalking. Similar provisions were included in the recently approved measure for paid leave in Colorado.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in New York City also updated the city’s paid leave laws to match up more closely with the state-level laws. One notable amendment was the inclusion of domestic workers, who are now eligible for up to 40 hours of paid leave.

Other highlights from the round-up include a host of workplace safety changes necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic. Some of these include designation of essential businesses, mandatory facemask laws, and the requirement that every business, essential and otherwise, have a written plan for ensuring workplace safety.


Cryptocurrency as Wages? NYC Mayor Eric Adams Buys In, But It’s Not That Simple.

February 28, 2022
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When New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, announced he was taking his first three paychecks in the form of Bitcoin, it might have been a publicity stunt, and one that backfired as Bitcoin prices took a nosedive, but it has highlighted a new means of employee compensation that is potentially on the horizon.

Bill to Ban Forced Arbitration in Sexual Misconduct Cases Passes the Senate

February 14, 2022
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Arbitration clauses are often buried deep in employment contracts, and many employees don’t know what they’re agreeing too or don’t fully understand what arbitration means. These clauses force employees with claims against their employer to bring them to arbitration—a private process which is often fully funded by the employer itself.

Workers Still Lack Security Despite Tight Labor Markets

February 9, 2022
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The labor market is exceptionally tight, a scenario which has converged over the last six months with what economists are calling the Great Resignation, with a record number of workers quitting in November. In the popular media, the narrative emerging from this phenomenon is one in which workers are in possession of more power than they have been for quite a while, which has resulted in an increase in wages, especially for the working class. The power, however, ultimately remains in the hands of bosses, and many workers’ experiences do not neatly coincide with the narrative.

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