We published a similar article in February 2020. The next month, COVID-19 introduced a new world, including for workplace legal issues. Recognizing now more than ever that the unpredictable is the new normal, let’s look back at New York employment law proposals from early 2020 and look ahead at what new laws may be coming in 2022.

Note that none of the bills addressed here have become law at the time of writing. We will continue to track these and other New York employment law proposals for updates.

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Update from Pre-COVID Employment Law Proposals

Paid Sick Leave

In February 2020, we highlighted legislation to impose paid sick leave statewide. With COVID-19 as an impetus, paid sick leave passed the legislature in 2020 and took effect on January 1, 2021.

Whistleblower Protections

One of the bills pending in early 2020 sought to increase whistleblower protections for New York workers dramatically. This legislation may have initially taken a backseat to the pandemic, but was ultimately signed into law by Governor Hochul in October 2021.

Proposed Bills – Returning Nominees

We identified proposals similar to the ones below back in 2020. They haven’t become law yet, but remain candidates for having a material impact on New York employment law.

A3632 / S575 – Abusive Work Environment

This bill, repeatedly proposed over the past decade, is an attempt at anti-bullying legislation. It provides that “no employee shall be subjected to an abusive work environment.” Employers would be liable when they or their employees create such conditions in the workplace.

With a broad definition of “abusive work environment,” this bill aims to create protections on top of workplace harassment laws. Essentially, this law would eliminate the requirement that the negative treatment be based on a legally protected personal characteristic. The following could qualify as abusive conduct regardless of the underlying basis:

• repeated verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults, and epithets;
• verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a threatening, intimidating, or humiliating nature; or
• sabotage or undermining of an employee’s work performance.

While none of these behaviors is pleasant or generally desirable, imposing employer liability on these bases would open floodgates of employment litigation. But, it’s at least plausible that New York could pave the way for such legislation.

A02448 / S8108 – “Schedules That Work Act”

New York City already has a local “Fair Workweek Act” that regulates the scheduling of fast food and retail employees. New York State started down the path of imposing similarly-intended regulations a few years ago. But that effort stalled out of fear that it would have exceeded the Department of Labor’s regulatory authority. However, the State indicated that it might continue the effort through legislation.

This legislation would impose new restrictions on covered employers’ ability to schedule employees. It includes specific parameters regarding call-in pay, split shifts, and advance notice of work schedules.

Some aspects of the proposed “Schedules That Work Act” would only apply to the retail, food service, and cleaning industries.

The bill more generally permits employees in any industry working for an employer with at least 50 employees to request changes to their work schedules and related employment details. Upon application, employers would then be required to “engage in a timely, good faith interactive process with the employee that includes a discussion of potential schedule changes that would meet the employee’s needs.”

If enacted as proposed, this bill would constitute a monumental shift in the scheduling dynamic for many New York workplaces.

A8008 / S6502 – Personnel Files

Currently, New York law does not require employers to provide employees access to review their personnel files. This bill would change that.

As proposed, this legislation would require employers to give current and former employees, upon request, a free copy of their personnel file up to 2 times each year.

Several other states already have similar statutory provisions.

Proposed Bills – New Contenders

While some of the bills below may have been introduced in previous legislative sessions, they didn’t jump to the top of our list of likely new laws back in early 2020. But now, they seem viable or otherwise remarkable enough to highlight.

S734 – Non-Competes

Governor Hochul has announced non-compete reform as one of her legislative priorities. Frankly, this bill probably doesn’t go as far as the Governor intends. But it’s still worthy of note as a starting point for potential limitations on the use of non-competes in New York.

This proposal would ostensibly codify non-compete standards currently used by New York courts. As such, it would only permit a non-compete agreement that:

• is no greater than required for the protection of the legitimate interest of the employer;
• does not impose an undue hardship on the employee;
• is not injurious to the public; and
• is reasonable in time period and geographic scope.

The law also attempts to render a non-compete unenforceable where an employee loses the job due to a declared state of emergency (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic).

A6639 / S7434 – Salary Information

This bill would mandate significant changes to the way many employers currently determine salaries and wages. New York law already prohibits employers from asking about their salary history. This legislation would go further and prevent them from even asking employees about their salary expectations.

In addition, employers would have to include the applicable wage scale or salary range in each job posting.

A2142 – Use of Paid Sick Leave

This bill proposes that employees’ paid sick leave “shall not result in a reduction of paid time off for purposes other than sick leave.”

It seems this would prevent employers from combining paid sick leave into a general paid leave bucket, such as “Paid Time Off” or “PTO.”

If this bill were to pass as drafted, it would raise many questions not easily answered by the legislative text. If the concept were to gain traction, the bill would probably be amended or replaced by an alternative proposal. But, any new law with this intent would undoubtedly affect a large number of workplaces, likely requiring most employers to revise their paid leave policies.

A6090 / S6032 – Remote Electronic Monitoring

Obviously influenced by the COVID pandemic, this bill would restrict employers from engaging in electronic monitoring of their employees working at home. Employers could not require employees to install software on personal devices, including smartphones, in an attempt to help confirm whether the employee is actually working.

Under this bill, employers could not even monitor employees on company-provided computers and devices in real-time. However, they could review employee website browser histories.

(Click here for more on a new law already in place that affects electronic monitoring of employees generally.)

A2534 / S6032 – Bereavement Leave

The New York Legislature has been trying to enact some form of bereavement leave over the past couple of sessions. In fact, they nearly succeeded in 2018, but then-Governor Cuomo vetoed the bill.

As with the vetoed legislation, this pending proposal would revise the state’s Paid Family Leave law. It would permit eligible employees to use PFL for bereavement leave. That could mean up to 12 weeks of partially paid leave to grieve the death of a family member.

With a new governor, will this measure finally become law in 2022?

A5047 / S385 – Parenting Leave

This proposal would require employers with 50 or more employees to provide employees up to 16 hours off during any school year to attend school conferences or classroom activities related to the employee’s child that cannot be scheduled during non-work hours. Under the bill, employers are not required to pay employees for this time.

A761 / S640 – Essential Workers Bill of Rights

The COVID pandemic introduced us to “essential workers.” Under this legislation, that group includes, but is not limited to employees of any:

essential health care operations including research and laboratory services; essential infrastructure including utilities, telecommunication, airports and transportation infrastructure; essential manufacturing, including food processing and pharmaceuticals; essential retail including grocery stores and pharmacies; essential services including trash collection, mail, and shipping services; news media; banks and related financial institutions; providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations; construction; vendors of essential services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residences or other essential businesses; vendors that provide essential services or products, including logistics and technology support, child care and services needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public. 

During a State disaster emergency, employers of essential workers would have to implement the “bill of rights” outlined in the law. Among the most notable requirements are mandatory hazard pay and “payment of the costs of any child care or health care needed by such essential workers for the duration of the state disaster emergency.”

Especially given the payment provisions, it’s unlikely the bill would take effect in the currently proposed form. But, the general concepts in play presumably have widespread support (as well as intense opposition).

A8823 – Minimum Wage

This bill proposes to increase the minimum wage for employers with annual income of $500 million or more to $20.00 per hour. (As a caveat, the bill further clarifies that any franchise of a company whose income is $500 million or more is also subject to this enhanced minimum wage.)

Currently, New York’s minimum wage varies only by geographic location and (in New York City) workforce size.

A6829 / S5640 – Public Employers

Various aspects of the New York Labor Law currently exclude public employers and their employees from coverage. Several of the bills discussed above would expressly apply to both public and private employers. This bill would go back and subject public workplaces to the existing requirements of the wage payment provisions of the Labor Law. This development would introduce many new obligations and parameters on public entities, including municipalities and school districts, throughout the state.

Employer Concerns with New York Employment Law Proposals

Employers have valid reasons to resist many of these New York employment law proposals. It is unlikely that all of these bills will become law in their current form. However, any of these topics could produce new legal obligations as soon as this year.

You should consider whether any of these measures would unduly burden your business. If so, it’s not too soon to start tracking these New York employment law proposals and seeking to prevent or modify them.

Whether through one of these bills or other measures, employers should expect New York to continue to impose new employee protections this year. It is critical to be aware of any new laws and prepare for compliance as soon as possible.

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