As noted in an earlier blog, on March 12, 2021, New York enacted a new law requiring public and private employers to provide paid leave for any employee receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. Under this law, employers must provide their employees up to four hours (or, if greater, such time as an employee is entitled
David Paseltiner
The New York City Tenant Data Privacy Act: Leave Your Fingerprints at the Door
As I discussed in recent blog, a new addition to the New York City Administrative Code (2021 NYC Local Law No. 3, NYC Admin. Code Sections 22-1201 – 22-1205)(the “Biometric Privacy Law”) will go into effect on July 9 regulating the use of facial recognition technology. In a move to expand such…
Workplace Safety Committees in New York
As we discussed in our previous blog post, Governor Cuomo recently signed the NY HERO Act, which (i) provides for the creation of joint labor-management committees to address workplace safety (New York Labor Law Section 27-D) and (ii) requires New York employers to have a plan to prevent exposure to airborne infectious…
New York Passes the HERO Act for New Health & Safety Requirements in the Workplace
On May 5, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed legislation requiring New York employers to have a plan to prevent exposure to airborne infectious disease in the workplace and providing for the creation of joint labor-management committees to address workplace safety. Sections 218-B and 27-D of the New York Labor Law were enacted pursuant to the new…
U.S. Department of Labor Issued Guidance on COBRA Premium Assistance
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “Act”) into law. The Act mandates that employers provide 100% of an eligible employee’s cost of continuing group health coverage under Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”) for the period of April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. Employers that…
New York Allows Paid Time Off for Receiving COVID-19 Vaccinations
On March 12, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed a new law requiring public and private employers to provide paid leave for any employee receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. Under the new law, employers must provide their employees up to four hours (or, if greater, such time as an employee is entitled to receive pursuant to a collectively…
Mayor De Blasio Signs Legislation to Expand Protections for Workers and Commercial Tenants Affected by Pandemic-Related Closures
New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio has signed legislation extending the effective period of certain legal protections designed to support the City’s businesses and their employees during the pandemic. The first bill extends and expands the City’s paid safe and sick leave law to reach more workers. The other two bills extend protections for commercial…
Department of Labor Announces Proposed Independent Contractor Regulations
On September 25, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed regulations which, if adopted, would establish factors for determining whether an individual is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA requires employers maintain certain records regarding employees and provide a federal minimum wage and overtime to nonexempt employees.…
New Sick Leave Law Becomes Effective September 30, 2020
Earlier this year, New York State enacted a new sick leave law, which becomes effective Wednesday, September 30. This law requires all New York State employers to allow employees to accrue sick leave. Although accrual of sick leave begins on the 30th, employees may not take the leave until January 1, 2021.
This…
Avoiding Age Discrimination When Reopening During COVID-19
As businesses and offices reopen during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, employers must ensure they do not violate employment discrimination laws and regulations as they develop plans and procedures to abide by social distancing and safety guidelines required by federal, state and local law.
Recent technical assistance questions and answers from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity…