New York to Protect Workers from Retaliation for Lawful Absences

New York is strengthening its worker protection law, prohibiting employers from disciplining employees for legal absences.

It will be considered retaliation if a business assesses points or deducts time from a time bank when workers use a legally protected absence, under legislation (S.1958A/A.8092B) signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul late Monday.

The law takes effect in 90 days.

The legislation takes aim at absence control or “no-fault” attendance policies, which violate workers’ rights and discourage them from taking the leave or time off they are entitled to, according to the bill justification memo.

Under those types of policies, employees ...