Regulatory Watch
Compliance Corner
Stay current with HR compliance changes, new regulations, and legal updates affecting employers.
New York Non-Compete Ban Stalls as Governor Hochul Declines to Sign
New York's legislature passed a statewide non-compete ban, but Governor Hochul declined to sign it, preferring a scaled-back version. Employers should remain alert for amended legislation.
By Joel Riley
New York City Expands Earned Safe and Sick Time Act with Unpaid Leave, Prenatal Leave, and Broader Protections
NYC amends its Earned Safe and Sick Time Act effective February 22, 2026, adding 32 hours of unpaid leave, 20 hours of paid prenatal leave, expanded leave reasons, and changes to the Temporary Schedule Change Act.
By Joel Riley
New York City Requires Employers to Provide Paid Prenatal Personal Leave
As you know, Section 196-b of the New York state Labor Law was amended in 2024 to require, on and after January 1, 2025, that every employer provide its employees twenty hours of paid prenatal personal leave during any fifty-two-week calendar peri...
By John Baldino
New York Clean Slate Act Will Automatically Seal Criminal Records
New York's Clean Slate Act (S7551A) provides for automatic sealing of certain criminal conviction records and prohibits employer inquiries about sealed records. Effective November 16, 2024.
By Joel Riley
New York City Requires Workers' Bill of Rights Poster Under Local Law 161
New York City's Local Law 161 requires all NYC employers to display and distribute a multilingual "Know Your Rights at Work" poster by July 1, 2024. Non-compliant employers face $500 civil penalties after a 30-day cure period.
By Joel Riley
New York Minimum Wage Increases to $16.00 Per Hour Effective January 1, 2024
New York's minimum wage rose to $16.00/hour in NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties effective January 1, 2024, with $15.00/hour in the rest of the state, as part of a multi-year schedule enacted in the FY2024 state budget.
By Joel Riley
New York City Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based on Height and Weight
New York City passed Int. No. 209-A, prohibiting employment discrimination based on height and weight, with exceptions for certain safety-related positions. Effective November 22, 2023.
By Joel Riley
New York Expands Restrictions on Confidentiality Agreements in Discrimination Cases
New York S4516 expands restrictions on confidentiality provisions in settlement agreements to cover all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation — not just sexual harassment. Effective immediately.
By Joel Riley
New York Requires Written Separation Notice for Terminated Employees
New York now requires employers to provide written notice to terminated employees of their right to apply for unemployment benefits, plus a completed record of employment. Effective November 13, 2023.
By Joel Riley
New York Adds Protections Against Employer-Compelled Political and Religious Meetings
New York amended Labor Law Section 201-d to prohibit employers from disciplining employees who refuse to attend employer-sponsored meetings on political or religious matters. The law took effect immediately upon signing in September 2023.
By Joel Riley
New York Requires Employer-Sponsored Meetings Poster for All Employers
New York's S4982 prohibits mandatory employer-sponsored political and religious meetings and requires a new mandatory posting. All NY employers must display the poster immediately.
By Joel Riley
New York Expands Nursing Mothers Workplace Protections and Requires Written Lactation Policy
New York amended its Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act (SB 4844) with expanded lactation accommodation requirements and now mandates a written lactation policy in employee handbooks. Effective June 7, 2023.
By Joel Riley
Wage Transparency Laws: What Employers Need to Know Across Multiple States and Localities
A comprehensive guide to wage transparency and pay disclosure laws enacted across California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, and several cities.
By Joel Riley
New York Requires Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plans Under the NY HERO Act
New York's HERO Act requires all private employers to adopt and distribute an airborne infectious disease exposure prevention plan and include it in employee handbooks.
By Joel Riley
New York Paid Sick Leave: Employer Rules on Usage Increments and Accrual
New York's paid sick leave law requires usage by the hour with a maximum four-hour minimum increment. Accrual, caps, and employer obligations vary by company size.
By Joel Riley