Several new laws and changes are taking effect in New York in January 2025, impacting businesses and workers:

• Minimum Wage Increase: The minimum wage will rise by $0.50 to $16.50 per hour in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, and to $15.50 in the rest of the state 24.
• Paid Family Leave: The maximum weekly benefit for Paid Family Leave will increase by more than $300 1.
• Workers’ Compensation: The minimum weekly benefit for workers’ compensation will increase, while the assessment rate for employers will decrease by 22% to 7.1%, potentially saving businesses about $191 million 1.
• Paid Prenatal Leave: Employers must provide 20 hours of paid leave for prenatal care to pregnant employees79.
• Retail Worker Safety: A new act requires retail employers to implement programs to prevent workplace violence, effective March 4, 20252.
• Congestion Pricing: Starting January 5, 2025, most vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street will be charged a $9 toll, affecting businesses operating in the area 67.
• Stock Market: The NYSE and all U.S. stock and bond markets will be closed on January 1, 2025, for New Year’s Day 3.
• Insulin Costs: Co-pays for insulin will be abolished for state-regulated health insurance plans, potentially affecting businesses providing health insurance 8.

These changes aim to balance worker benefits with business cost savings, reflecting New York’s evolving economic landscape in 2025.

What are the new requirements for the Retail Worker Safety Act?

The Retail Worker Safety Act, signed into law in New York on September 5, 2024, introduces several new requirements for retail employers, effective March 3, 2025:

1. Workplace Violence Prevention Policy: Covered retail employers (those with at least 10 employees) must adopt a written policy that outlines factors or situations that might place retail employees at risk of workplace violence15.
2. Employee Training: Employers must provide interactive workplace violence prevention training for all employees during onboarding and annually thereafter. The training must cover topics such as de-escalation techniques, active shooter drills, emergency procedures, and use of security alarms and panic buttons3.
3. Notice Requirements: Employers must provide written notice about the policy and training information to all retail employees in both English and the employee’s primary language3.
4. Panic Buttons: Effective January 1, 2027, retail employers with 500 or more retail employees statewide must provide access to “silent response” buttons throughout the workplace. These buttons will request immediate assistance from a security officer, manager, or supervisor when pressed12.
5. Risk Assessment: Employers must assess potential workplace violence hazards, including factors like working late hours, exchanging money with the public, and working alone or in small numbers6.

These requirements aim to enhance safety measures and prevent workplace violence in retail settings across New York State.

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NEW YORK MANHATTAN BUSINESS CLUB USA