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April 28, 2011

Theft prevention act becomes law in New York

By  Time Force Staff / Time Force


The New York Wage Theft Prevention Act, which was passed last December, has recently gone into effect in the state, according to the Business Review. The act requires employers to comply with a set of new rules designed to prevent them from stealing from workers by paying less than the minimum wage, not paying overtime and forcing employees to work off the clock.

Incorrectly classifying employees as independent contractors - thus enabling employers to avoid compensation costs and certain taxes - also became illegal under the new law, which applies to all companies. Any employees hired after April 9 will be covered by the law, as will any worker whose terms and conditions of employment are altered after that date.

Additionally, employers must issue annual notices to their workers that detail pay structure, overtime rates and other information. This must be written in the employee's native language if that is Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Creole, Polish or Russian.

"Too often, workers are afraid to demand the wages that they're owed because they fear they will be fired," Ady Barkan of nonprofit organization Make the Road New York told the New York Daily News. "This will make it easier for them to get the justice that they deserve."


For the original article, please click here.


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Historic Paid Sick Days Victory in NYC!

New York City just became the largest city in the U.S.to win paid sick days! On May 8, 2013, the City Council passed legislation to require paid sick days for one million New Yorkers. Without this critical legal protection, workers risk losing their jobs for taking a sick day. When workers go in to work sick, they put the public and their co-workers at risk of disease.

Starting April 2014, all workers will be protected from being fired if they must take a sick day to care for themselves or a sick family member, and workers at larger employers will receive 5 paid days of sick leave each year.

This major workplace justice and public health victory is the product of a four-year campaign led by courageous workers and small businesses who stood up for what’s right. We thank our partners at the Working Families Party, the NYS Paid Family Leave Coalition, SEIU 32BJ, the Progressive Caucus, Speaker Quinn and Council Members Brewer and Ferreras, for standing with us for NYC’s workers.


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