As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure that your employees are treated fairly and receive their due compensation. The Labor Standards Division is here to help you meet this obligation and ensure that all workers in Suffolk County, New York have the right to a fair day, a fair pay, and fair working hours. The New York State Labor Law is designed to prevent the opening and operation of sweatshops, while the New York State Human Rights Act has been amended to expand protections against discrimination for victims of domestic violence. Additionally, all employers must provide all their employees with at least twenty-four consecutive hours (one day) of rest in a calendar week.
New York City requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide sexual harassment training each year. Employers must also remain alert, as the avalanche of bills enacted in the past month will increase their compliance burden this year. Large employers of manual workers can request a variation that allows them to pay less frequently than once a week, subject to approval by the New York Department of Labor. New York employers can meet minimum wage requirements for service and hospitality positions by combining the employee's cash wage with a tip credit. Last summer, New York expanded its law requiring employers to give their employees up to four hours (per injection) of paid vacation time to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, including booster shots.
Additionally, New York law prohibits employees from working in a factory or store within 4 weeks of giving birth, unless they submit a doctor's note stating that they can do the job and a letter stating that they want to return to work. With all of these new laws and the start of a new year, this is the time to evaluate your policies and procedures to ensure they are in compliance with Suffolk County, New York's employment and labor laws. The Labor Standards Division is here to protect you and ensure that you receive your due compensation.
