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.


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The Weekly Roundup: Employment Numbers Remain High as Job Losses Persist

August 28, 2020
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The jobs report, released early Thursday morning, indicates job losses persist, with first-time unemployment claims above 1 million for the second straight week and continuing claims still north of 14 million. This comes as Congress remains on summer recess, having failed to shore up an extension of the enhanced stimulus that was propping up the economy. With the unemployment numbers still shaky, this week we’re taking a closer look at just who is being affected.

Commuting & NYS Workers’ Compensation: What Employers & Employees Need to Know

August 26, 2020
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Employers and employees who have questions about parental leave should talk to an experienced labor and employment law attorney. Learn how we can help.

Pods: What Are They and Are They Right for Me and My Family?

August 25, 2020
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We first started hearing the term “pod” a couple weeks after lockdown began. Initially, it was something to describe a collection of immediate family or friends with whom we could safely interact. At the same time, people started using the term to refer to extended child care units. Parents began banding together to pool child care resources when daycare facilities closed, schools shut down, and the domestic care industry was no longer an option.

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