On January 10, 2019, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he will introduce a package that includes improved benefits for private-sector workers and protections to ensure they are paid as promised.
The mayor introduced legislation that would require companies that employ five or more people to provide their workers at least two work weeks’ (or 10 days’) worth of paid personal time. According to the mayor’s office, this would cover nearly 3.4 million New York City employees, both full-time and part-time, including the more than 500,000 workers who currently have no paid time off. Workers can use the time to be with their families, take vacations, attend religious services, and for bereavement purposes.
To ensure the legislation would be enforced, de Blasio also proposed expanding the Department of Consumer Affairs and changing its name to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. The agency would be charged with not only enforcing the new paid personal time mandate, but making sure that lower-paid employees are being fairly paid and that freelancers are being paid on time.
Employees should be entitled to a fair compensation package which can be negotiated. It is important that before entering into any agreement with a potential employer you negotiate the best benefits and compensation you can receive. If you have concerns regarding employment law issues, contact an experienced New York employment law attorney who can ensure that your rights are protected. Call Steven Mitchell Sack, The Employees Lawyer™ at (917) 371-8000 or email him at sms@StevenSack.com.
