Changes to New York law

At a glance

• The New York Retail Worker Safety Act took effect on June 2, 2025.
• New York City has adopted enhanced rules to its Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA), which come into effect on July 2, 2025.

Recent changes to employment laws in New York and New York City will impact on employer obligations.

The New York Retail Worker Safety Act went into effect on June 2, 2025. The New York State Department of Labor recently published guidance on the new law, including:

• An FAQ.
• A model policy.
• A model training.

New York City adopted enhanced rules to its ESSTA, which go into effect on July 2, 2025, addressing the requirement to provide paid prenatal personal leave – see https://rules.cityofnewyork.us/rule/paid-prenatal-personal-leave/.

While the leave requirement itself mirrors what is already required under State law, the rules generally extend current ESSTA requirements regarding employer notification from beyond sick and safe leave to prenatal leave. For example:

• The final rule requires employers to provide written notice to employees about their rights to paid prenatal personal leave. The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has issued an updated Notice of Employee Rights that includes paid prenatal leave.
• The final rule addresses paystub or wage statement requirements. Employers must indicate the amount of paid prenatal personal leave available to the employee, and the amount of such leave used during the pay period, on each pay statement, or through another written method provided to the employee each pay period.