Last week, the New York State Department of Labor formally adopted an amendment to the Minimum Wage Order for Miscellaneous Industries and Occupations that cuts the tip credit for all miscellaneous industry workers in half effective June 30, 2020. The amendment also eliminates the tip credit completely for miscellaneous industry workers effective December 31, 2020. As we previously reported on this blog, the NYSDOL recommended the elimination of the tip credit for miscellaneous industry workers after holding multiple hearings across the state regarding the impact of tip credits and Gov. Cuomo announced in January that the NYSDOL's recommendation would be implemented in two phases.
On June 24, 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order 205 (EO 205), which sets forth restricted travel areas within the U.S. for New Yorkers and those traveling to New York. If an individual arrives in New York after having spent more than 24 hours in a restricted area, the individual could be subject to a 14-day quarantine. This quarantine must be carried out in accordance with New York Department of Health (DOH) regulations for self-quarantining, and violators are subject to penalties of up to $10,000. The DOH reports that it will update the list of restricted states weekly. For more information on EO 205 and the DOH guidance, please see our earlier client alert.
Earlier this week, in response to a nationwide outcry for police reform, the New York Legislature repealed Civil Rights Law § 50-a, a decades-old statute that largely prohibited the disclosure of police disciplinary records. The justification included the following: “Repeal of § 50-a will help the public regain trust that law enforcement officers and agencies may be held accountable for misconduct.” Governor Cuomo has now signed the new legislation, which takes effect immediately.
In April 2020, Governor Cuomo signed new laws which amend the Wage Theft Prevention Act (WTPA). First passed in 2011, and amended in 2014, the WTPA mandates that employers provide employees with notices at their time of hire containing pay information and include related pay information on employee pay stubs. The amendments add new requirements to the WTPA notices and pay stubs for employees on public work contracts throughout the state who receive prevailing wage supplements and for home care aides in New York City and Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties.
The budget bill signed by Governor Cuomo on April 3, 2020, includes an amendment to the Labor Law that requires New York employers to provide sick leave to employees. The legislation becomes effective 180 days after it was enacted, which appears to be September 30, 2020.
The budget legislation signed by Governor Cuomo on April 3 includes an amendment to the Election Law that reverts back to the pre-2019 law regarding employee time off to vote.
New York State recently published some answers to frequently asked questions regarding the COVID-19 paid sick leave law that was enacted last week. The FAQs clarify some aspects of the law that were not clear from the text of the statute and give some insight into the manner in which the law will be interpreted and enforced.
Last week, New York enacted new legislation regarding leave and other benefits for certain employees relating to COVID-19. (The federal government also passed the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, which we have covered in a prior blog post). Unlike the federal laws, which take effect on April 2, the state law took effect immediately. Here is a summary of what employees are entitled to receive under this new law.
In his daily press briefing, Governor Cuomo stated this morning that all non-essential businesses will be required to reduce their workplace staffs to zero. He stated that this will be enforced. Violations of the workplace reduction will result in civil fines and even mandatory closure for any business not in compliance. NOTE: ESSENTIAL SERVICES DO NOT HAVE TO BE REDUCED.
Governor Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.6 late on March 18th. Under the order, effective as of March 20th at 8 p.m., all businesses and not-for-profit entities are to use any telecommuting or work from home procedures that they can safely utilize to the maximum extent possible. This order does not apply to government entities, municipalities and public schools. This order requires every employer, unless exempted, to reduce its in-person workforce at any work locations by 50% by today, March 20th, at 8 p.m.
On March 19th, the Governor issued Executive Order 202.7. This order requires every employer, unless exempted, to reduce its in-person workforce at any work locations by 75% by tomorrow, Saturday, March 21, at 8 p.m.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.6 late on March 18. Under the order, effective as of March 20 at 8 p.m., all businesses and not-for-profit entities are to use any telecommuting or work from home procedures that they can safely utilize to the maximum extent possible.
Most importantly, unless excepted, each employer is to reduce the in-person workforce at any work locations by 50% by tomorrow, Friday, March 20, at 8 p.m.