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On Nov. 1, 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an amendment to the New York Paid Family Leave Benefits Law (the “PFL”) expanding the definition of “family member” for the purposes of the PFL to include biological or adopted siblings, half-siblings, and step-siblings. The current definition of “family member” covers children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren,

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

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 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

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.

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