New York Labor Laws - The Complete Guide for 2024

Operating a business in New York State can be difficult for some employers, especially when it comes to managing compliance with New York State labor laws. Employers and HR professionals can use this guide to better understand the labor laws covering New York businesses and to better manage compliance.

New York Labor Law Compliance Overview

Prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York labor laws were already difficult to manage compliance with. Since the start of the pandemic, business owners in New York State, as well as New York City, have had to adjust to an entirely new level of compliance management.

New York Hiring Laws

Relative to other subject areas of New York Labor Law, hiring law is certainly on the smaller end. However, there are four aspects employers should be aware of.

New York New Hire Reporting

When a New York employer hires a new employee, specific information must be reported to the state within 20 calendar days of the hiring date.

New hire reporting required information includes:

Employers can either apply online through the New York New Hire Online Reporting Center or by submitting a copy of Form IT-2104 in place of or in addition to Form W-4. Forms must be submitted through fax or by mail to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance .

“Ban the Box" Law

While not necessarily a state-wide law, employers should be mindful of any county or city-specific “Ban the Box” restrictions or regulations like those in Buffalo and New York City (NYC). These can include removing conviction and arrest history questions and potentially delaying background checks until later in the hiring process.

For employers with employees in NYC and in upstate New York, it’s best practice to apply the law across the company rather than just a portion of those employed in the area with the law.

New York Salary History Ban

Across the state of New York, it is illegal for an employer to inquire, orally or in writing as well as indirectly or directly, about an applicant's salary history information, according to the New York State Salary History Ban.

Important to note is that employers also may not use an applicant’s salary history information to determine whether or not to interview a candidate or in determining a salary to offer a potential new hire. Employers should also be aware of any local laws that expand protections as well.

Wage Theft Protection Act (WTPA)

While primarily relating to New York wage and hour laws, employers must remember to have newly hired employees sign a Notice of Pay Rate as part of the onboarding process.

New York Wage & Hour Laws

Staying compliant with both Federal and New York Wage and Hour Laws is a common challenge for employers throughout the state to comply with. New York employers need to manage payroll compliance across areas like minimum wage, overtime, meal and rest breaks, deductions, pay frequency, and final pay check requirements.

New York Minimum Wage

New York minimum wage presents a particular challenge for employers, as there are many different wage requirements that are dependent on the location within the state.

With the last changes having taken effect on January 1st, 2024, the minimum wage rates in New York are as follows: