Two recent laws signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul have ushered in new obligations for employers in New York State. Effective as of September 14, 2023, these new pieces of legislation explicitly concern employer notices about unemployment insurance and employers’ prerogative to request access to employees’ and applicants’ social media accounts.
The first law centres around employer notices regarding unemployment insurance. With its implementation, New York has further regulated the requirements for such notifications. Despite the importance of this law, details regarding the extent and nature of these changes are currently unavailable. Keeping abreast of these evolving requirements is, therefore, prudent for legal individuals operating within the state’s business and corporate landscape.
Similarly, the second law brings changes to practices around social media access. To uphold privacy and digital rights, it curtails an employer’s ability to ask employees and potential hires for access to their private social media accounts. This development underlines the growing emphasis on digital privacy rights in the employment sector.
In understanding and adapting to these legislative developments, employers and legal practitioners must familiarize themselves with the nuances of these two new laws. As New York continues to navigating the increasingly complex landscape of unemployment and digital rights, it is critical for organisations and corporations to stay updated on these shifts in law and regulation.
For the full details of the new legislation, consult the coverage from Davis Wright Tremaine LLP.