Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, all private-sector employers in New York must provide eligible employees 20 hours of paid prenatal leave. The New York State Department of Labor released FAQs providing employers with guidance on the new law. According to the FAQs, paid prenatal leave is a separate entitlement from any other leave policies. As you

Daniel J. Jacobs
Daniel J. Jacobs is a principal in the New York City, New York, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He assists both unionized and union-free employers with a full range of labor and employee relations matters.
Daniel regularly advises clients on compliance with the myriad of federal, state, and local employment laws, including the FMLA, FLSA, WARN, state/local wage hour, sick leave laws and related requirements, as well as new legal developments impacting labor and employment policies and practices.
Daniel also assists clients in numerous industries with new hire documents and onboarding processes, the development and maintenance of personnel policies, reorganizations and reductions-in-force, purchase/sale transactions, sexual harassment and other workplace conduct rules, wrongful discharge, and other workplace requirements and related litigation.
With respect to traditional labor matters, Daniel advises and represents clients in collective bargaining negotiations, contingency planning, labor disputes, managing a unionized workforce, grievances and arbitration proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, and in state and federal courts.
New York City’s Final Rules on Safe and Sick Time Become Effective
On September 15, 2023, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) issued a final rule (Final Rule) on the city’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA).
The Final Rule provides some clarification on various compliance issues such as coverage, required notice of usage, supporting documentation that can be requested, the…

New York State Expands Obligations to Accommodate Nursing Employees, Publishes Model Policy
Employers in New York State are required to comply with new obligations to accommodate nursing employees and to issue a mandatory lactation policy released by the Department of Labor beginning June 7, 2023. The expanded obligations arise from new amendments to New York State’s Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act (New York Labor Law §…

2022 New York Roundup: State, City Legislative and Related Developments
In 2022, New York State and New York City enacted many new workplace laws, creating additional obligations for employers.
Read more here.
Election Day is Coming – A Reminder of Employer Obligations
With midterm elections upon us, employers should ensure they are aware of and in compliance with state law requirements related to employee voting rights. While not all states impose requirements on employers, some impose time off obligations and notice requirements with the possibility of criminal or civil penalties for non-compliance.
Read more here.
New York State, Modified New York City Sick and Safe Leave Obligations Fully Effective January 1
The New York State Paid Sick Leave Law and the amendments to the New York City Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law expanding employees’ paid sick leave entitlements will go into full effect on January 1, 2021.
The state law went into effect on September 30 for the purpose of accrual of paid sick leave,…
Amendments to New York City Paid Sick and Safe Leave Law Effective
Changes to New York City’s Paid Sick and Safe Leave Law (NYCSL) took effect on September 30, 2020.
On September 23, 2020, the New York City Council enacted Int. No 2032-A, and Mayor Bill de Blasio signed the bill on September 28, 2020.
Most of the modifications comport the NYCSL with New York State’s…
New York State’s New Paid Sick Leave Law Goes Into Effect September 30, 2020
New York State will soon require all employers to provide sick leave to employees. The New York State Sick Leave (NYSSL) law goes into effect September 30, 2020, but employees are not entitled to use NYSSL until January 1, 2021. Read our full article here.
Election Day is Coming – What are Your Obligations as an Employer?
With Election Day fast approaching, employers should ensure they are in compliance with state law requirements related to employee voting rights. While not all states impose requirements on employers, some impose time off obligations and notice requirements with the possibility of criminal or civil penalties for non-compliance. Applicable voting laws vary by state. Some state…
‘Safe Time’ Amendments to New York City Paid Sick Leave Effective May 5, 2018
Amendments to the New York City “Earned Safe and Sick Time Act” (ESTA) went into effect on May 5, 2018. Eligible employees under the ESTA will be able to use paid time off for circumstances resulting from the employee or a covered family member of the employee being the victim of family offense matters, sexual…