Kerri Beatty 
On January 1, 2026, the minimum wage will increase to $17.00 per hour for employees located in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, and to $16.00 per hour for employees in the remainder of New York State. Beginning on January 1, 2027, increases to the minimum wage rates will be based on inflation … Read more
New York City has amended the New York City Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (“ESSTA”) expanding its leave entitlements to employees. The amendments go into effect on February 22, 2026. The amendments include the following changes: (i) employers must grant an additional 32 hours of unpaid leave to new employees upon hire and to all employees … Read more
Recently, New York State has raised the maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit from $504 per week to $869 per week. The increased benefit rate will be reflected in payments starting the week of October 13, 2025. The maximum benefit rate is the highest benefit amount available to unemployed New Yorkers. The amount an individual receives … Read more
Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor (“U.S. DOL”) released an opinion letter (FMLA2025-02-A) (the “Opinion Letter”) concerning how to calculate the number of hours of Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) leave available to employees who work a fixed schedule that includes mandatory overtime. The Opinion Letter clarifies that an employer seeking to calculate the … Read more
Since October 1, 2025, the federal government has been shut down due to a lapse in funding causing many governmental programs including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (“DHS”) E-Verify system to cease operations. E-Verify, which allows employers to verify employment eligibility in the United States, has now resumed operations. Employers can create an E-Verify … Read more
As we previously reported, on April 23, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at eliminating the use of disparate-impact liability and ordering federal enforcement agencies to stop the enforcement of antidiscrimination laws based on disparate impact theories. The Executive Order directed the Attorney General and the Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to … Read more