KEEPING YOU INFORMED… We are writing to advise you that, consistent with Governor Hochul’s announcement today, the Acting Commissioner of Health issued a new “Determination,” which is effective Monday, December 13, 2021. Among other things, it includes a new mask mandate for all public places and...
KEEPING YOU INFORMED… We are writing to advise you that Governor Hochul recently signed new legislation, effective January 26, 2022, amending Labor Law § 740 to substantially expand the existing protections for “whistleblowers.”Prior to the amendments, Labor Law § 740 was limited in scope. As is...
KEEPING YOU INFORMED… We are writing to advise you that Governor Hochul recently signed a bill expanding New York’s Paid Family Leave law (“NYPFL”). Effective January 1, 2023, the NYPFL will include the care and caretaking of siblings with a serious health condition.As a reminder, the...
KEEPING YOU INFORMED…We are writing to advise you that Governor Hochul recently signed amendments to the New York State General Municipal Law and Education Law that, effective immediately, prohibit the sale and display of hate symbols.The new laws prohibit any county, town, village, city, BOCES,...
KEEPING YOU INFORMED… This week Governor Hochul signed legislation requiring certain meeting minutes to be posted on a public body’s website if the public body “maintains a regularly and routinely updated website and utilizes a high-speed internet connection.” Minutes of an open meeting must be posted...
KEEPING YOU INFORMED… We are writing to advise you of a recent update to the NYS Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) guidance regarding paid leave for COVID-19 vaccinations.As we previously advised in our May 7, 2021 client memorandum, the DOL issued guidance regarding paid leave time to...
KEEPING YOU INFORMED… We are writing to advise you that this week, Governor Hochul signed legislation amending the Open Meetings Law (“OML”).Effective November 18, 2021, upon request and “to the extent practicable,” public entities must make available at least 24 hours prior to an open meeting,...
KEEPING YOU INFORMED… Effective October 5, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor’s joint employer rule (“the Rule”), adopted by the prior administration, will be rescinded. The Rule included, among other things, a four-factor test that narrowly interpreted the definition of a “joint employer” pursuant to the...
KEEPING YOU INFORMED… We are writing to update you on the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (“HERO Act”), which mandates workplace health and safety protections for private sector employers with respect to airborne infectious diseases.In our July 23, 2021 memorandum, we advised that notwithstanding...
KEEPING YOU INFORMED… We are writing to advise you that yesterday, Governor Hochul signed legislation authorizing public bodies to hold public meetings remotely and without in-person access effective immediately. This authorization will expire on January 15, 2022.The new law allows public bodies to hold a public...
