Suffolk County will now join New York City, Albany County and Westchester County, in prohibiting employers from inquiring into the salary and benefits history of job applicants. The intent of the new law is to reduce pay inequality for women and minorities. Effective June 30, 2019, an employer, employment agency, employee or agent in Suffolk

On Friday, August 24, 2018, the New York State Division of Human Rights and the New York Department of Labor issued their proposed model anti-sexual harassment policy and model anti-sexual harassment training program. Every New York State employer must promptly adopt and distribute an anti-sexual harassment policy to all employees. Every New York State Employer must also

Effective July 18, 2018, New York City employers will be required to allow employees who have been employed for at least 120 days and who work at least 80 hours in New York City in a calendar year to make two (2) temporary schedule changes per year for certain personal events.

Introduction No. 1399-2016 (commonly

Recently, New York State and New York City passed new legislation designed to stop sexual harassment in the workplace. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the New York State legislation into law on April 12 and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed the New York City legislation into law on May 9.

These new laws,

On May 21, 2018, the United States Supreme Court, in the case of Epic Sys. Corp. v Lewis, held in a 5-4 decision that employers can require – as a condition of employment – that employees waive their rights to participate in class action lawsuits.  Resolving a split among the various circuit courts, employers can

Brian Bank, Scott Green, and Catalina De La Hoz co-authored an article entitled, “Recent Developments in Employment Law and Litigation” for the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal.

Click here to read the article.

This information or any portion thereof may not be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or downloaded

The joint employer standard has long been a hotly contested issue because it is used to determine whether one employer may become liable for the employment actions and policies of another. On December 14, 2017, the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) decision in  Hy-Brand Industrial Contractors, Ltd., 365 NLRB No. 156 (2017) overruled its controversial

The Trump Administration’s Department of Labor has proposed a new tip rule that could rescind a 2011 regulation enacted during the Obama administration that mandates employers distribute tips to their tipped employees. The proposed rule, which was published in the Federal Register on December 5, 2017, would allow restaurant owners to pool tips and share

After months in limbo, U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant struck down the Obama Administration’s November 2016 rule that would have expanded overtime protections to millions of white collar workers.  Had it been implemented, the Fair Labor Standards Act’s “white collar” exemption threshold would have essentially doubled to just over $47,000 per year and would have

The Trump Administration created new uncertainty in a recent Court filing by declaring its intentions to rewrite an Obama-era regulation designed to dramatically expand the number of workers covered by federal overtime rules. Employers have been left in limbo since last November when a federal district court issued a preliminary injunction that prevented the U.S.

On June 7, 2017, the United States Department of Labor rescinded two critical guidance memos issued during the Obama Administration, one conceived to curb the misclassification of employees as independent contractors and another that broadened liability for joint employment. These moves signal a shift toward less vigorous enforcement by the Department and a return to

On May 31, 2017, New York’s Department of Financial Services published the much anticipated final regulations for Paid Family Leave.  The regulations provide critical information that will help New York employers comply with these new legal requirements that are set to go into effect on January 1, 2018.  The law provides eligible employees with job-protected,

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Working Families Flexibility Act— a bill that if enacted, would allow private-sector employees to receive “compensatory time” off in lieu of traditional overtime pay. The bill, H.R.1180, passed 229 to 197, largely along party lines, with all the Democrats and just six Republicans voting against it. Employers

On April 5, 2017, New York City Council approved a bill that bans employers from requesting or using job applicants’ salary history when making hiring decisions. This latest development follows trend of the pay-equity movement taking place in cities and states nationwide.  It is also the latest in a series of legislative measures in New York

On May 15, 2017, New York City’s Freelance Isn’t Free Act (“FIFA”) will take effect, and make history as the first law of its kind. FIFA establishes significant protections for freelance workers, or independent contractors by requiring a written contract, timely payment and anti-retaliation provisions. The law will provide many of the protections afforded to

On November 22, 2016, a federal judge in Texas granted a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) overtime rule scheduled to take effect December 1, 2016. The rule more than doubles the required salary level to qualify for the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) “white collar” exemptions, increasing the annual salary

The Fair Chance Act, which imposes substantial restrictions and obligations on New York City employers, goes into effect on October 27, 2015. Generally, the ordinance prohibits an employer (with at least four employees) from inquiring about a candidate’s pending arrest or conviction record until after a conditional offer of employment has been extended.  Only a

The New York State Wage Theft Prevention Act (“WTPA”) remains in effect, which means that employers have until February 1, 2013 to provide the required written notice to employees.  Pursuant to the WTPA, New York employers must provide New York employees with a written notice and acknowledgment of pay rate and payday on an annual

Construction Industry Fair Play Act

New York Governor David A. Paterson recently signed into law the “Construction Industry Fair Play Act,” a new piece of legislation that will drastically affect employers in the construction industry. Reflecting a continued concern over employer misclassification of independent contractors, the new law, which took effect on October 26,