by Jules Halpern | Jan 16, 2026 | Artificial Intelligence, Discrimination, Employer Policies
With New York’s express adoption of a disparate impact standard under the New York State Human Rights Law, employers need to take proactive steps to evaluate whether neutral employment practices may be producing unintended discriminatory outcomes. Identify risk areas...
by Jules Halpern | Jan 16, 2026 | Employee Benefits, New York Law, Retirement
New York Secure Choice is a state-facilitated retirement savings program required organizations that do not have an employer-sponsored retirement plan. The program allows employees to save through automatic payroll deductions into a Roth IRA that they own and control....
by Jules Halpern | Jan 14, 2026 | Employer Policies, Employment Law, New York Law
On December 29, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the “Trapped at Work Act,” signaling New York State’s firm stance against employment arrangements that financially penalize workers for leaving a job. The law took effect immediately and includes steep civil...
by Jules Halpern | Jan 9, 2026 | Employee Benefits, Employment Law, Minimum Wage
In 2026, states and localities will again be raising minimum wages, continuing the increases implemented in prior years. The wages listed below do not apply to tipped employees. Because many 2026 rates are tied to inflation and subject to final agency confirmation,...
by Jules Halpern | Dec 5, 2025 | Background Checks, Employer Policies, Hiring
Reference checks are a critical component of a broader risk-management strategy designed to meet the standard of care and mitigate exposure to negligent hiring and negligent retention claims. Simply collecting reference names is insufficient; employers must actively...
