On January 1, 2025, the following New York employment law changes take effect and apply to employers of all sizes.

PRENATAL LEAVE
Pregnant employees will be entitled to 20 hours of paid prenatal leave during any 52-week period, which can be used for healthcare services related to the employee’s pregnancy. Employees can take leave in increments as small as one hour. The state’s recently released FAQs say that employers can’t ask employees for information about their health condition or request medical records or related documents in order to use paid prenatal leave.

Action Items

Add a paid prenatal leave policy to your handbook.
Ensure that managers are aware of this new paid leave entitlement.
MINIMUM WAGES AND SALARIES
NYC and Suffolk, Nassau, and Westchester Counties
The minimum wage will increase to $16.50 per hour. The minimum base wage for tipped hospitality workers will be $13.75 per hour for service employees and $11 per hour for food service workers.

The minimum salary threshold for exempt executive and administrative employees will increase to $1,237.50 per week ($64,350 annually).

The minimum wage for home care aides will increase to $19.10 per hour.

The Rest of New York State
The minimum wage in the remainder of New York State (all areas outside of New York City, and Suffolk, Nassau, and Westchester counties) will increase to $15.50 per hour. The minimum base wage for tipped hospitality workers will be $12.90 per hour for service employees and $10.35 per hour for food service workers.

The minimum wage for home care aides will increase to $18.10 per hour.

The minimum salary threshold for exempt executive and administrative employees will increase to $1,161.65 per week ($60,405.80 annually).