Update on 2025 Employment Law Developments in New York and New Jersey
New York
In New York, there are three notable employment law developments. First, as of January 1, 2025, every private sector employer in the state must provide its employees with 20 hours of paid prenatal leave.
Second, as of January 1, 2025, the New York minimum wage increased an additional $0.50. This creates a new minimum wage of $16.50 in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, and from $15.00 to $15.50 for everywhere else in New York State.
Third, in November, voters in New York approved Proposition 1 which included the Equal Rights Amendment.
New Jersey
In November, Governor Philip Murphy signed S.B. 2310 into law, effective June 1, 2025, requiring New Jersey employers to be more transparent about salaries for posted positions and promotional opportunities. Under the law, an employer must disclose in each post for new jobs and transfer opportunities that are advertised either externally or internally the hourly wage or salary and a general description of benefits and compensation programs an employee would be eligible for.
Implications for Employers
New York Employers may wish to (a) review and update their existing time off benefits to ensure such benefits comply with New York's new paid prenatal leave; (b) review and update payroll to ensure compliance with the increases in New York's minimum wage and minimum salary threshold for overtime pay exemptions; and (c) review and update any internal anti-discrimination policies or training to include the expanded list of protected categories, to the extent they are not already included.
New Jersey Employers may want to review their existing job posting policies, training, and templates to ensure compliance with New Jersey's new pay transparency law.
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