By July 1, New York City employers are required to furnish their employees with the Workers' Bill of Rights.
New York City's Local Law 161, which came into effect on January 3, 2024, empowers the City to publish a "workers' bill of rights." Employers in New York City are mandated to adhere to the law's notice and posting provisions by July 1, 2024.
Under this law, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, working alongside the City's immigration and human rights agencies, as well as community and labor organizations, was tasked with releasing a workers' bill of rights by March 1, 2024. This document, now available on the City's website [link], outlines the rights and protections afforded to all workers in New York City under federal, state, and local laws, regardless of their immigration status.
Effective July 1, 2024, New York City employers are obligated to furnish copies of the workers' bill of rights to all employees, including new hires. Additionally, employers must prominently display the workers' bill of rights in the workplace and on their company's intranet and mobile applications, where applicable. The notice must be provided and posted in English, as well as in any language spoken as a primary language by at least five percent of the employer's workforce, if translations are available. Presently, the workers' bill of rights is accessible for translation into 133 languages.
For initial violations of Local Law 161, employers will be granted a 30-day period to rectify the noncompliance, with subsequent violations carrying a $500 civil penalty. The law, however, does not specify the criteria for a "violation."
Key Points to Note:
New York City employers should take proactive measures to adhere to the notice and posting requirements stipulated by Local Law 161 by the deadline of July 1, 2024. It is recommended that employers also review the workers' bill of rights to ensure ongoing compliance with the legal obligations and protections outlined in the notice.
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