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When New York City declares a local state of emergency due to severe weather, many employees assume it automatically becomes a paid day off.In reality, wage obligations depend less on the emergency declaration itself and more on federal wage rules, New York reporting-pay regulations, and company policy. During a major snowstorm, NYC may restrict travel, close schools and city offices, and require non-essential employees to work remotely. For example, a recent emergency order

The Bigger Shift: HR Investigations Are Becoming Digital Forensics HR leaders are entering a world where digital content can be fabricated, identities can be simulated, and workplace harm can be engineered without a single in-person interaction. Deepfakes, AI-generated video, audio and images are no longer just cybersecurity concerns. They are becoming investigation issues, harassment issues, and legal risk issues simultaneously. More and more organizations are reporting case

New York City employers have long understood that paid time off (PTO) is more than a benefit — it’s a compliance issue, a retention tool, and increasingly, an organizational cultural signaling trust and flexibility. Now, the city is making that message explicit: Under a new compliance initiative led by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), businesses may soon face scrutiny if their payroll data shows that fewer than ha

Workplaces are more global and diverse and cultural observances like Ramadan and Lunar New Year highlight an important truth for employers. The traditional "one-size-fits-all holiday policies' don't reflect how people live, work, or practice their faith. In New York City, this reality is increasingly supported not just by values—but by law. While NYC does not require employers to give specific religious or cultural holidays off, The city and state laws do require reasonable

New York’s minimum wage increases to US$17.00/hour for employees in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester County, and to US$16.00/hour elsewhere in the state. Other adjustments include higher rates for overtime, tipped food-service workers’ cash wages, overtime for tipped employees, and tip credits. Both the minimum wage and cash wage for tipped food-service workers have also increased in New York. Changes to the Exempt Salary Threshold Certain employees may be exempt from the mi

New York has become the first state in the U.S. to require employers to say whether artificial intelligence or automation played a role in layoffs. If your company is planning a mass layoff or plant closure in New York, you already know you must file a WARN notice at least 90 days in advance. What’s new is that the WARN form now asks a direct question: did technology, automation, or AI contribute to these job cuts? If the answer is yes, employers must name the specific techno

The White House made a move that could be a lifeline for seasonal industries struggling to find workers. For fiscal year 2026, an additional 64,716 H-2B guest worker visas will be made available, effectively doubling the usual annual allocation of 66,000. For employers in hospitality, landscaping, tourism, seafood processing, and other seasonal sectors, this is not just a number—it’s the difference between fully staffed operations and severe labor shortages. The new visas are

New Jersey has passed a major expansion of the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA)  that will take effect July 17, 2026 . The law significantly increases who is covered, who qualifies, and how long leave may be protected . Governor Murphy signed legislation expanding the New Jersey Family Leave Act that changed the landscape for employers across the state. Beginning around July 17, 2026, many businesses that never had to think about NJFLA before will now be covered, and emp