Employers—we want to hear directly from you! The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) wants your insight into out how we can better align worker skills to your business needs. Below is a link to the Business Workforce Survey. NYSDOL wants to better understand the needs of businesses by learning about their experiences in the economy and how they are using emerging technology, including artificial intelligence. This feedback helps NYSDOL understand current workforce needs and guides the programs, services, and policies that support New York’s economy. The Department will share survey results with leaders in education, workforce development, business associations, training providers, and more. You can support this effort by sharing the survey link with your employees, customers, and community partners. The more voices we hear, the better!
| On January 1, 2026, New York State’s minimum wage will increase to $17.00 an hour in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, and $16.00 an hour for the rest of the state. This is part of the state’s historic multi-year plan to raise the minimum wage through 2027, when it will be tied to inflation. This increase makes New York State's minimum wage one of the highest in the country, helping New Yorkers statewide support their families and keep pace with rising costs. If you have questions, NYSDOL is here to help. Go to https://dol.ny.gov/minimum-wage for answers to your minimum wage questions. |
| Starting on January 1, 2026, New York will begin the next phase in the reduction of the overtime pay threshold for farmworkers. The new threshold will be 52 hours per week. This gradual reduction of the overtime threshold will continue to be reduced by four hours every other year until 2032, when the overtime threshold becomes 40 hours per week. This process was officially adopted in 2023 following Commissioner Roberta Reardon’s order that adopted the Farm Laborers Wage Board’s report and recommendations. These regulations ensure equity for farm workers while also providing farmers time to make the appropriate adjustments. Farm owners and employers may be eligible for the Farm Workforce Retention Tax Credit, which was increased to $1,200 per employee to provide near-term relief to farmers. |
The NYSDOL invites you to join us for our Worker Protection Open Hours webinar series starting January 22, 2026. Each webinar in this series will focus on a specific topic and will address compliance with new labor laws. Webinars will feature a topic overview followed by a Q&A session with audience-submitted questions. The upcoming topic in the series will be the Wage Theft Hub. Webinar Details:
Registration: Register for the virtual Worker Protection Open Hours using the link below. Please make sure to register by Wednesday, January 21st, 2026, to receive the webinar access link.
Interpretation Information:
- Language support available upon request at time of registration. Please make all such requests before January 1, 2026.
Upcoming Webinar Topics:
- April 2026 – Child Labor Laws: Summer Employment
- July 2026 – Farm Worker Labor Laws
- October 2026 – Safety and Health - Best Practices
All webinars will be recorded and uploaded to the NYSDOL Worker Protection Open Hours website, along with any additional FAQs. |
| As temperatures continue to drop and snowfall begins to accumulate, NYSDOL wants to remind you of our guidance materials for Extreme Cold and Extreme Precipitation. All employers are encouraged to utilize this guidance to keep workers safe amidst extreme cold temperatures. Ensuring worker safety in extreme weather conditions not only reduces the risk of illnesses, accidents, and injuries, but also helps businesses save money by avoiding increased workers’ compensation claims, insurance costs, and dips in productivity. For more information, including access to the full guidance documents, please visit the NYSDOL’s Extreme Weather Guidance page. |
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