New York Employment Legislation Update: A Preview of 2025
Summarizing key changes: wage increases, COVID-19 sick leave, family leave, prenatal leave, retail workplace safety, criminal background checks
Wage and Hour (Federal)
Department of Labor's 2024 Overtime Rule Overturned
Wage and Hour (New York State and New York City)
Overtime Exemption Salary Threshold Increase
Effective January 1, 2025, New York's salary basis test for employees classified as exempt under the administrative and executive exemptions will increase as follows:
New York City, Westchester, and Long Island
$1,237.50/week or $64,350.00/year (increased from $1,200.00/week or $62,400.00/year)
Remainder of New York State
$1,161.65/week or $60,405.80/year (increased from $1,124.20/week or $58,458.40/year)
Minimum Wage Increases
Effective January 1, 2025, New York's minimum wage will increase for all employees (excluding home care aides and certain other industry employees) as follows:
New York City, Westchester, and Long Island
$16.50/hour (increased from $16.00/hour)
Remainder of New York State
$15.50/hour (increased from $15.00/hour)
Upcoming Changes to the Tip Credit for Tipped Employees
As of January 1, 2025, the allowable "tip credit" for food service workers and service employees and the minimum cash wage is scheduled to increase.
Upcoming Changes to the Meal Credit
The allowable "meal credit" for food service workers, service employees, and non-service employees will increase on January 1, 2025.
Updates to the Uniform Allowance
Workweek of More Than 30 Hours
New York's COVID-19 Sick Leave
New York State's COVID-19 sick leave law, which requires employers to provide at least 5 or 14 calendar days (depending on employer size) of sick leave for isolation or quarantine related to COVID-19, will expire on July 31, 2025.
Benefit and Contribution Updates to New York's Paid Family Leave Law
New York Paid Prenatal Leave
Retail Workplace Safety Act
New York Clean Slate Act
This document is designed for general information only. The information presented in this document should not be construed to be formal legal or tax advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.
For more information on this and other topics, please contact Kevin via any of the channels listed below:
📧 kevin@kmckernan.com | 📞 718-317-5007