Creates, in addition to the existing sanction of criminal contempt of court, the remedies of labor law civil penalties and employee's right to bring civil action for unlawful discharge, penalty or discrimination on account of the exercise by an employee of a juror's right to be absent from employment by reason of jury service.
This bill, S 4070 ("Trapped at Work Act"), prohibits employers from requiring workers to sign employment promissory notes as a condition of employment. Such notes - agreements forcing workers to repay money if they leave before a set period - would be unenforceable and void under the law. Exceptions include agreements for repaying non-training-related advances, property leases, or collective bargaining terms. Violating the law subjects employers to fines of $1,000-$5,000 per affected worker, and workers can recover attorney fees if sued over these invalid agreements.
Provides affordable and accessible dependent care options for working families by including qualified in-home and backup care expenditures paid or incurred with respect to the taxpayer's employees working in the state in the employer provided child care credit criteria; makes technical corrections to make such credit independent of the federal employer-provided child care credit.
This bill requires industrial development agencies in New York municipalities to include a representative from a labor organization on their governing boards. It defines "labor organization" as any group formed for collective bargaining, handling workplace grievances, or worker protection (excluding company unions). Agencies must have 3-7 members, including at least one labor representative, a local government/business representative, and a school district representative. The law aims to ensure worker voices are part of decisions affecting local economic development projects.
Provides grounds for attachment; relates to procedures where employees may hold shareholders of non-publicly traded corporations personally liable for wage theft; relates to rights for victims of wage theft to hold the ten members with the largest ownership interests in a company personally liable for wage theft; relates to penalties for certain wage violations.
This bill requires employers in New York to conduct annual bias checks on automated hiring tools (like AI resume scorers or personality tests) to ensure they don’t unfairly disadvantage protected groups (e.g., based on race, gender). Employers must publicly share summaries of these checks on their websites before using the tools and provide updated reports to the state Labor Department yearly. The Attorney General and Labor Commissioner can investigate violations and take legal action to enforce compliance. It directly affects businesses using such tools for hiring decisions within New York State.
Requires such apprenticeship program is specific to the type and scope of work which is being performed and have a graduation rate of at least thirty percent as determined by the department of labor; makes technical corrections.
This bill requires New York state agencies to provide certified payroll records from public works contractors to labor organizations that represent workers on those projects. It mandates that agencies share detailed payroll information - including employee names, job classifications, hours worked, and all wage payments - within 30 days of a valid request. The records must verify compliance with prevailing wage rates and working conditions for public construction projects. This directly affects labor organizations seeking transparency and contractors performing state-funded work, ensuring accountability in wage enforcement. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill (S 4300) prohibits employers from firing or discriminating against employees who respond to emergencies as volunteer firefighters or ambulance workers. It directly protects volunteer emergency responders by making it illegal for employers to terminate their employment solely because they were performing emergency duties. The law covers necessary travel to, work at, and return from emergencies, including fire alarms, hazardous material incidents, or medical calls, as defined by existing volunteer benefit laws. The policy change takes effect immediately, ensuring job security for these volunteers during emergency response activities.
Tags
Public Safety
This bill is a symbolic resolution (S.28) urging Governor Hochul to officially designate April 2025 as "Workplace Violence Prevention Month" in New York. It does not create new laws but seeks to raise public awareness about workplace safety, particularly highlighting that healthcare workers face five times higher violence risk than other industries. The resolution formally memorializes the Governor to issue the proclamation, with copies sent to state officials and healthcare advocacy groups like the American Nurses Association. It aligns with national recognition of April as Workplace Violence Prevention Awareness Month.
