As 2024 comes to a close, New York prepares for the rollout of new employment laws and regulations in the coming year. While not an exhaustive summary, this article highlights key developments and updates in employment law for 2025.

1. Minimum Wage Increases. Effective January 1, 2025, the hourly minimum wage for the New York metro area, which includes New York City, Westchester and Long Island, will increase from $16.00 to $16.50. Wages across the rest of New York State (excluding New York City, Westchester and Long Island) will increase from $15.00 to $15.50. Also, effective January 1, 2025, are changes to the tip credit for food service workers. In New York City, Westchester and Long Island, the tip credit for food service works will be increased from $5.35 to $5.50. For service workers, the tip credit will be increased from $2.65 to $2.75. Other than New York City, Westchester and Long Island, the tip credit for food service workers in New York will be increased from $5.00 to $5.15 and the tip credit for service workers will be increased from $2.50 to $2.60.
2. Salary Exempt Threshold Changes. Employees may be exempt from overtime requirements depending on their job duties. On January 1, 2025, the new weekly minimum salary threshold for exempt status will increase to $1,237.50 from $1,200.00 in New York City, Westchester and Long Island. For the rest of New York State, the new weekly minimum salary is $1,161.65 per week, up from $1,124.20.
3. New York Retail Worker Safety Act. On September 5, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the New York Retail Worker Safety Act into law. Covered retail employers have until March 4, 2025 to ensure compliance with the law’s new requirements for the adoption of polices and training for workplace violence prevention. Specifically, the Act requires a workplace violence prevention policy that (1) outlines a list of factors or situations in the workplace that might place retail employees at risk of workplace violence, (2) outlines methods that the employer may use to prevent incidents of workplace violence, (3) includes information concerning the federal and state statutory provisions concerning violence against retail workers and remedies available to victims of violence, and (4) states that retaliation against individuals who complain of workplace violence, or who testify or assist in any is unlawful. The Act also requires a workplace violence prevention training program providing, among other things, information on the requirements under the law, active shooter drills and training on areas of previous security problems. Finally, effective January 1, 2027, covered retail employers with 500 or more retail employees nationwide must provide access to “panic” buttons throughout the workplace to summon immediate assistance from law enforcement.
4. End of COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave.  COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave expires on July 31, 2025. After July 31, 2025, employees will need to use existing paid leave, such as New York State’s Paid Sick Leave or New York City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time to manage care or isolate for COVID-19.
5. Paid Prenatal Leave. Effective January 1, 2025, employers are required to provide employees with 20 hours of prenatal personal leave during any 52-week calendar period. Paid prenatal leave is to be provided in addition to other existing sick leave. The leave may be taken for health care services such as physical examinations, medical procedures, monitoring and testing and discussions with health care providers related to pregnancy. Paid prenatal leave may be taken in and must be paid in one-hour increments.  Additionally, the use of the language “their pregnancy” indicates the law covers only pregnant employees and not spouses. The law does not state employees must work for a specified period of time before being eligible for prenatal leave. Employers are not required to pay an employee for unused paid prenatal leave upon termination, resignation or other separation from employment.

For more information, you can visit New York State’s Website dedicated to Paid Prenatal Leave: https://www.ny.gov/programs/new-york-state-paid-prenatal-leave

Key Takeaways

In light of these recent and upcoming employment law developments, employers should review and update their employee handbooks, bring their job advertisements into compliance and revise their hiring practices as they relate to employee policies and wage practices.

If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding handbook updates, or other legal developments, please contact Samuel Dobre, Mallory Campbell, Patrick Caldarelli or any attorney in Bond’s labor and employment practice.

On Dec. 27, 2023, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) published a Notice of Adoption of its proposed regulations in the State Register, which means the minimum weekly salary to qualify for the executive and administrative exemptions will officially increase effective Jan. 1, 2024. The NYSDOL did not make any changes to its proposed regulations, so the following increases will occur:

Read More >> Update: The NYSDOL’s Proposed Regulations Increasing the Exempt Salary Levels Have Been Adopted as Final Regulations

Effective on Jan. 1, 2024, the minimum hourly wage in New York will increase from $15 to $16 in downstate New York (New York City and Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties), and from $14.20 to $15 in upstate New York. In all regions of New York, the minimum wage will increase by $0.50 on Jan. 1, 2025, and by another $0.50 on Jan. 1, 2026.

Read More >> Reminder: The New York Minimum Wage Will Increase on Jan. 1, 2024

Effective Dec. 31, 2022, the minimum wage in upstate New York (i.e., every part of the state except New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties) will increase from $13.20 to $14.20 per hour. The New York State Department of Labor recently announced this one dollar increase – which is approximately a 7.5% increase.

The minimum wage for employees working in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties remains unchanged at $15.00 per hour. The minimum wage for fast food employees across the state also remains unchanged at $15.00 per hour. The minimum wage for upstate New York will continue to increase on an annual basis until the statewide minimum wage rate reaches $15.00 per hour regardless of locale. A chart summarizing the minimum wage rates throughout the state is available here.

Employers should keep two important things in mind as they prepare to comply with this forthcoming minimum wage increase. First, the minimum wage increase for goes into effect on Dec. 31, 2022. Therefore, non-exempt employees who work on New Year’s Eve should be paid the increased minimum wage for any hours worked. Second, the applicable minimum wage rate is determined with respect to where the work is performed – not where the employer is located. Thus, an employee working in New York City must be paid at the minimum wage rate applicable to downstate even if his or her employer is headquartered in upstate where the minimum wage has not yet reached $15.00.

An increase to the salary threshold for employees who are classified as exempt under New York’s executive and administrative exemptions has not been finalized for 2023. However, proposed regulatory text issued by the Department of Labor suggests the minimum weekly salary threshold for the executive and administrative exemptions will increase from $990 to $1064.25 per week (inclusive of board, lodging and other allowances and facilities) in upstate New York effective Dec. 31, 2022. Historically, the exempt salary threshold has been 75 times the minimum wage rate; this proposed increase, which will likely be implemented, roughly follows that pattern. There is no proposed increase to the salary threshold for exempt executive and administrative employees working in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, so that threshold will remain at $1,125 per week. There is still no state salary threshold to qualify for the professional exemption, so the federal threshold of $684.00 per week remains applicable for the professional exemption. Employees must continue to meet specified duties requirements to qualify for an exemption.

For any questions about this minimum wage increase, please contact Hannah Redmond, any attorney in Bond’s labor and employment practice or the Bond attorney with whom you are regularly in contact.

On Jan. 15, 2022, the New York City council amended the City Human Rights Law to encourage equity and transparency in pay.¹ This amendment is part of larger national trend towards greater pay transparency. Several states have adopted similar laws, and the New York State legislature has introduced pay transparency legislation which is currently under consideration. On March 22, 2022, the City’s Commission on Human Rights issued guidance for employers providing some much-needed clarity in advance of the effective date. This blog post will outline the requirements of the new law, informed by that guidance, and it will provide recommendations for what employers can do now to get ready for this new compliance obligation.

Read More >> New York City Pay Transparency Law Update

Ever since the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) announced an increase in the minimum wage from $12.50 per hour to $13.20 per hour in areas outside of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties effective Dec. 31, 2021, we have been expecting a proportionate increase in the minimum weekly salary to qualify for the executive and administrative exemptions. For the last few years, the minimum weekly salary to qualify for the executive and administrative exemptions has been 75 times the minimum hourly wage. The NYSDOL has confirmed that this proportionate increase will occur effective on Dec. 31, 2021.

Read More >> The New York Minimum Salary Level to Qualify for the Executive and Administrative Exemptions Will Increase

Under the New York State Minimum Wage Act, minimum wage rates in New York increase each year on December 31 until reaching $15.00 per hour. In New York City and for large fast-food companies throughout the state, the minimum wage has already reached its $15.00 maximum. 

Read More >> New York Minimum Wage Increases for 2022

Employers in New York will be required to comply with the new state minimum wage rates and the new state salary thresholds to qualify for the executive and administrative exemptions, effective December 31, 2020.

Read More >> Reminder: New York Minimum Wage Rates and Salary Thresholds for the Executive and Administrative Exemptions Will Increase on December 31, 2020

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.

Read More >> Reminder: The Tip Credit for Employees Outside the Hospitality Industry Has Been Cut in Half Effective Today

The New York State Department of Labor, after holding multiple hearings across the state regarding the impact of tip credits for employees covered by the Minimum Wage Order for Miscellaneous Industries and Occupations, issued a report recommending the elimination of the tip credit for all miscellaneous industry workers.  Governor Cuomo recently announced that this recommendation will be implemented in two phases.  Effective June 30, 2020, the tip credit will be cut in half.  Effective December 31, 2020, the tip credit will be eliminated entirely.  This will affect an estimated 70,000 employees, in occupations such as car wash attendants, nail and hair salon workers, tow truck drivers, dog groomers, wedding planners, tour guides, and valet parking attendants.  This will not affect employees covered by the Hospitality Industry Wage Order, such as service employees and food service workers in hotels and restaurants.

Read More >> Governor Cuomo Announces Plan to Eliminate Tip Credit for Employees Outside the Hospitality Industry

Although the minimum wage rate under the Fair Labor Standards Act remains $7.25 per hour and the U.S. Department of Labor has not issued any new proposed regulations to raise the minimum salary to qualify for a white-collar exemption under federal law, employers in New York will be required to comply with the new state minimum wage rate and the new state salary threshold to qualify for the executive and administrative exemptions, effective December 31, 2018.

Read More >> Reminder: New York Minimum Wage Rates and Salary Thresholds for the Executive and Administrative Exemptions Will Increase on December 31, 2018

Although the minimum wage rate under the Fair Labor Standards Act remains $7.25 per hour and the U.S. Department of Labor’s efforts to raise the minimum salary to qualify for a white-collar exemption under federal law have stalled, employers in New York should be aware that the state minimum wage rate and the state salary threshold to qualify for the executive and administrative exemptions will increase effective December 31, 2017.

The increases to the state minimum wage effective December 31, 2017, are as follows:

• Employers outside of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties:  $10.40 per hour
• Employers in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties:  $11.00 per hour
• Employers in New York City with 10 or fewer employees:  $12.00 per hour
• Employers in New York City with 11 or more employees:  $13.00 per hour

Fast food employees will be entitled to an even higher wage rate effective December 31, 2017, as follows:

• Fast food employees outside of New York City:  $11.75 per hour
• Fast food employees in New York City:  $13.50 per hour

The salary threshold to qualify for the executive and administrative exemptions effective December 31, 2017, are as follows:

• Employers outside of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties:  $780.00 per week
• Employers in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties:  $825.00 per week
• Employers in New York City with 10 or fewer employees:  $900.00 per week
• Employers in New York City with 11 or more employees:  $975.00 per week

New York does not set a salary threshold to qualify for the professional exemption, so employees must meet the current federal salary threshold of $455.00 per week to qualify for the professional exemption.  For all of the white-collar exemptions, employees must also meet the applicable duties requirements.

A chart summarizing the minimum wage rates, tip credits, uniform maintenance allowances, meal and lodging credits, and exempt salary thresholds under the Miscellaneous Industries Wage Order can be found here.  A chart summarizing this same information under the Hospitality Industry Wage Order can be found here.