The increased minimum wage in New York State for hourly non-exempt employees takes effect on December 31, 2019. The required minimum rate depends on the employee’s location and the employer's total number of employees.

New York City’s Freelance Isn’t Free Act is one of the strongest laws protecting independent contractors in the country, offering damages for violations of independent contractor rights. Freelancers can receive double the value of the entire contract for late payment, underpayment, or non-payment. Speak to an experienced employment attorney if you think you have a claim under this new law.

If you are a freelancer working in New York City, there is a relatively new law that protects your right to be paid the agreed-upon fee in a timely manner. You can read more about this law at https://www.workingnowandthen.com/freelance-isnt-free-act/.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will start requiring companies with 100 or more employees to collect and report their pay scales broken down by gender and race. This information will be useful to those who sue over pay-equity discrimination. Read more about equal pay rights at Working: Now and Then.com.

In 2019, Working Now and Then will offer the Charles E. Joseph Employment Law Scholarship. Named for Charles E. Joseph, founder of Working Now and Then, the annual scholarship offers $1,000 to a law student preparing for a career as a plaintiffs’ employment lawyer.