Jeffrey (Jeff) H. Ruzal, Member of the Firm in the Employment, Labor & Workforce Management practice, in the firm’s New York office, was quoted in Law360 Employment Authority, in “More Deals, Fewer Cases 1 Year After NY Pay Frequency Shift,” by Irene Spezzamonte. (Read the full version – subscription required.)
Following is an excerpt:
On May 9, 2025, Gov. Kathy Hochul approved changes to Section 191 of New York Labor Law through the state's fiscal year 2026 budget, freeing employers from liquidated damages for their first late-pay violation and allowing workers to recover those damages only after the second violation. Section 191 requires that manual workers be paid weekly, no later than seven days after the end of the week in which the wages are earned.
Jeffrey H. Ruzal of management-side firm Epstein Becker Green said that even though the law is now less punitive toward first-time offenders, timely payment remains a legal requirement that employers must follow.
"It's important that businesses ensure compliance with [Section] 191 so that they avoid first, second or tertiary violations, which can add up," Ruzal said.
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