Labor & Employment (Labor Standards)

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1000: Relates to split shifts and minimum wage

This bill requires employers to pay minimum wage for any time over one hour during a split shift when an employee is not working (e.g., during a long break between work periods). It directly affects hourly workers with split shifts, such as those working morning and afternoon shifts with an extended unpaid break. The key provision mandates that this non-working time be counted as "worked" time for minimum wage purposes, ensuring pay for the full duration of the shift. The bill is pending in the Labor Committee and has not yet become law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires minimum wage for split shift breaks, protecting workers' pay rights during non-working time95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5176: Relates to establishing when a tip credit applies to employees working at tipped and non-tipped occupations on the same day

This bill clarifies when employers can apply a tip credit to workers who perform both tipped and non-tipped tasks on the same day. Specifically, if a service or food service worker spends more than 20% of their shift in a non-tipped role, they must be paid the full minimum wage for that portion of the day, not the reduced wage allowed with a tip credit. Regular side tasks directly related to their primary job (like busking in a restaurant) do not count as non-tipped work. The bill also specifies that employers improperly applying a tip credit must only compensate the affected worker in a tip pool, not all workers in the pool.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill ensures workers get full minimum wage when >20% of shift is non-tipped work, protecting wage rights and preventing underpayment under tip credit system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5571: Relates to family leave

This bill amends New York's workers' compensation law to prevent employers from requiring employees to use paid time off before taking family leave. It expands the definition of "family leave" to include situations where an employee's family member (spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent) is on active military duty within the U.S. (including contiguous states, Hawaii, Alaska, or territories). The law directly affects employees needing leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition, bond with a newborn/adopted child, or address military-related exigencies. The policy change takes effect immediately, ensuring employees can access family leave without exhausting other accrued time first.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents employers from requiring PTO before family leave, expands coverage to military family members, strengthening worker leave protections95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave Workers' Compensation

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 4, 2026

S 4473: Clarifies that the statutory damages available for certain wage violations are not punitive in nature and are designed to compensate workers

Clarifies that the statutory damages available for certain wage violations are not punitive in nature and are designed to be liquidated damages rather than penalties or to compensate workers for the employer's failure to prevent wage theft and for the harm to employees that results from such failure.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies statutory damages as compensatory for wage theft, directly protecting workers' rights and ensuring fair compensation for employer violations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 4, 2026

S 415: Provides for minimum wage requirements for miscellaneous industry workers and establishes a one fair wage reimbursement credit

S 415 establishes minimum cash wage requirements for "miscellaneous industry workers" in New York, including car wash attendants, nail salon staff, dog groomers, tour guides, and valet attendants. It mandates that employers pay these workers a specific hourly cash wage before tips, with rates varying by location: $12.77 in NYC starting 2026, $11.50 in other areas, and phased increases through 2029. The bill also includes a "one fair wage reimbursement credit" to help employers offset costs. The law modifies existing wage orders to ensure total pay (cash wage + tips) meets the state minimum wage, applying only to workers covered under specific state regulations for non-food service industries.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes higher minimum cash wages for service workers before tips, mandating location-based rates and reimbursement credit to protect earnings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4734: Relates to requiring certain employers to provide workforce demographics and equity measurements to the division of human rights annually

Relates to requiring certain employers to provide workforce demographics and equity measurements to the division of human rights annually, including each employee's race, ethnicity, age, and sex or gender identity or expression, as well as the employee's job category, date of hire, salary or wages, training received, raises, promotions, disciplinary actions, terminations and benefits, including but not limited to unpaid benefits or privileges such as flexible scheduling, the ability to work from home, or the ability to bring children to work.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates annual demographic reporting to address workplace equity disparities, advancing transparency in employment practices and protecting workers' rights through data-driven equity monitoring.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Labor Standards

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4189: Authorizes the comptroller of the city of New York to enforce and investigate certain violations of the state minimum wage

This bill, the "POWER Act," authorizes New York City's comptroller (referred to as the "fiscal officer") to enforce and investigate violations of state minimum wage laws within the city. It directly affects NYC workers and employers by giving the comptroller authority to probe wage theft and other labor standard violations covered under specific labor law sections. Key provisions allow the comptroller to inspect workplaces, issue subpoenas, review records, and impose penalties - similar to the Commissioner of Consumer and Worker Protection - while clarifying that this does not replace existing enforcement by other city agencies or state departments. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAuthorizes NYC comptroller to enforce minimum wage laws, investigate wage theft, and impose penalties, directly strengthening worker protections against wage violations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage Workplace Safety

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2226: Authorizes the comptroller of the city of New York to enforce and investigate certain violations of the state minimum wage

This bill, the "PROTECTION AND OVERSIGHT OF WORKER ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS (POWER) ACT," grants New York City's comptroller authority to enforce and investigate violations of the state minimum wage and related labor standards within the city. It directly affects NYC workers and employers by allowing the comptroller - instead of just the state labor department - to inspect workplaces, issue subpoenas, and pursue penalties for minimum wage violations. The comptroller gains enforcement powers for specific labor law sections covering wages, hours, and workplace standards, excluding areas already handled by the Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner. The bill takes immediate effect and does not replace existing state or city enforcement responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants NYC comptroller enforcement authority for minimum wage violations, strengthening worker protections and expanding oversight of wage compliance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage Workplace Safety

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5022: Establishes the New York state worker protection and labor enforcement fund

This bill creates the New York State Worker Protection and Labor Enforcement Fund to support the Department of Labor's enforcement activities. The fund will be filled with money recovered from employer violations of specific labor laws (covering wages, safety, and other worker protections) and other designated sources. Funds can only be used to supplement labor enforcement efforts, such as hiring staff or conducting investigations, and must be reported annually to state leaders and the public. The fund becomes operational on April 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates fund for labor enforcement using recovered violation penalties, directly strengthening wage/safety enforcement and worker protection efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 1, 2026

S 5990: Relates to mandatory employer disclosures regarding employee compensation and benefits

Relates to mandatory employer disclosures regarding employee compensation and benefits, including any non-salary or non-wage compensation and benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandatory disclosure of all compensation/benefits increases transparency, directly supporting workers' rights to full compensation awareness per Labor & Employment indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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