Labor & Employment

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1394: Creates a joint committee to provide oversight on unemployment insurance

Creates a joint committee to provide oversight on unemployment insurance; authorizes the department of labor to conduct a study on how to improve unemployment insurance in the state.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates committee to study improvements to unemployment insurance, directly advancing worker benefit protections under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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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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signed · New York · Senate Feb 14, 2025

S 822: Relates to the disclosure of automated employment decision-making tools and maintaining an artificial intelligence inventory

Relates to the disclosure of automated employment decision-making tools; requires the office of information technology services to maintain an artificial intelligence inventory; provides that the use of artificial intelligence systems shall not affect the existing rights of employees pursuant to an existing collective bargaining agreement, or the existing representational relationships among employee organizations or the bargaining relationships between the employer and an employee organization.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents AI systems from overriding existing collective bargaining rights and representational relationships, directly protecting workers' rights under current agreements.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires disclosure of AI employment tools and protects employee rights, aligning with data privacy regulation and consumer protection indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Artificial Intelligence

in committee · New York · Senate Apr 22, 2025

J 846: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 28, 2025, as Workers' Memorial Day in the State of New York

This resolution memorializes Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 28, 2025, as Workers' Memorial Day in the State of New York. The aim is to honor workers who have been killed, injured, or made ill on the job and to renew advocacy for safety and health protections.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentHonors workers injured on the job and advocates for workplace safety protections, aligning with labor rights and safety standards.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4376: Provides family leave in the event of a stillbirth or miscarriage

This bill expands New York's paid family leave program to include up to four weeks of paid leave for employees experiencing a stillbirth and one week for miscarriage. It directly affects employees in New York who face these pregnancy losses, providing financial support during this time. The law specifies that leave benefits will equal 67% of an employee's average weekly wages (capped at the state average) for the designated periods. Employees must provide proof like a stillbirth or fetal death certificate to qualify, and the leave counts toward the annual 12-week maximum family leave allowance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands paid leave for pregnancy loss, providing financial support during health-related trauma, aligning with mental health and patient access indicators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands paid family leave benefits for pregnancy loss, directly enhancing worker benefits and financial support during personal health crises.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4742: Provides that either party to a workers' compensation claim can request a hearing

This bill (A 4742) allows either an injured worker or an employer to request a hearing in a workers' compensation claim. It requires the board to schedule such hearings within 45 days of the request, without imposing limits, fees, or penalties on either party. The bill also mandates that the board keep accurate records of all hearings and imposes penalties ($25 to a fund + $75 to the worker) if employers delay proceedings through tactics like failing to appear or produce evidence. It directly affects workers seeking compensation and employers facing claims.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows injured workers to request hearings without fees, mandates 45-day scheduling, and penalizes employers for delays - strengthening workers' access to compensation claims.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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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 · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5728: Expands participation in the New York state secure choice savings program

This bill expands New York's Secure Choice retirement savings program by lowering the employer eligibility threshold from 10 to 5 employees. It directly affects small businesses in New York that previously didn't qualify but now meet the new requirement (having 5+ employees, operating for at least two years, and not offering a retirement plan in the past two years). The key change amends the law to define "employer" more broadly for the program, making it accessible to more small businesses. This policy change aims to increase access to automatic retirement savings options for more workers without requiring employers to administer their own plans.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands retirement savings access for more workers by lowering employer threshold, strengthening employee benefit programs and workplace financial security.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4097: Relates to the entitlement to unpaid leave of absence for victims of domestic violence

Provides for unpaid leave of absence for victims of domestic violence; permits victims of domestic violence to take an unpaid leave of absence for twenty days from employment to address on-going domestic violence; defines "address on-going domestic violence"; contains provision to protect the individual's job position and benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides job-protected unpaid leave for domestic violence victims, advancing workers' rights and safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5536: Increases salaries for foster care direct care workers; appropriation

This bill increases salaries for foster care direct care workers, caseworkers, and their supervisors in voluntary foster care agencies. It appropriates $17 million from the state general fund to support these raises, effective for the 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028 fiscal years. The funding comes through the foster care block grant and must be used directly to boost employee compensation. The bill aims to address chronic underfunding and improve workforce stability in the child welfare system.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $17M from state general fund to increase foster care worker salaries, directly funding public service workforce stability.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly increases salaries for foster care workers with $17M appropriation, directly advancing wage standards and workforce stability in labor sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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