A new state law goes into effect on November 1, which will change labor relations as they pertain to occupational health. Earlier this year, the state enacted the NY HERO Act. One provision of the bill, which required employers to have infectious disease prevention plans, took effect this summer. The other key
The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) released a guide to help employers answer questions related to the new Marijuana Regulations and Taxation Act (MRTA). Earlier this year, the MRTA officially designated cannabis as both a legally consumable product and a lawful recreational activity for adults. View NYS DOL
Late last night, U.S. officials announced plans to reopen the U.S. border to vaccinated, non-essential travelers from Canada and Mexico beginning in early November. The administration told reporters last night that it does not plan to require vaccinated travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test, a notable difference from Canada’s
Unless the state swiftly acts, New York employers may soon face significant unemployment insurance rate increases. New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli recently released a report detailing the dire financial status of the state’s UI system, confirming concerns that the BNP raised this summer. Use the BNP’s one-click tool to
Biden Mandates “Vax or Test” Requirement for Larger Employers On September 9th, President Joe Biden announced a new mandate: all employers with 100 or more employees must ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require weekly testing of unvaccinated workers. Biden announced he would also require contractors doing business with the federal government to be fully vaccinated. The
The New York State Department of Labor announced a forthcoming increase in the minimum wage across upstate New York. On December 31, the minimum wage in our region will rise to $13.20 per hour, a 70-cent increase from the current rate. As part of the 2016 state budget, the Legislature approved a gradual minimum
This morning, the U.S. federal government announced that it will be extending its closure to Canadian travelers through October 21. Non-essential Canadian travelers have been banned from entering the U.S. since March 2020. Despite calls from the BNP, numerous members of Congress, and chambers across the nation to open the border, the
Hochul Takes Oath, BNP Offers Recommendations for First 100 Days In the wake of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation, Kathy Hochul became the 57th Governor of the State of New York. BNP President and CEO Dottie Gallagher sent Hochul a welcome letter to Governor Hochul and recommended actions Hochul should
What Happened? Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul designated COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease,” citing rising case numbers and concerns about the delta variant. This declaration is significant because it triggers the NY HERO Act. In June, former Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the NY HERO Act, which mandated infectious disease prevention protocols for all employers in
Last night, the New York State Legislature convened for a special session to extend the state’s eviction moratorium. The moratorium, which prevents the eviction of tenants declaring financial hardship, will remain in place though January 15. The move represents Gov. Kathy Hochul’s first legislative action. The bill passed 38-19 in the Senate and 80-60 in the