Frequently Asked Questions
In the absence of an employment contract, an employee is “at-will,” which means she can be terminated at any time, without warning, for any reason or no reason at all, so long as the termination does not violate the anti-discrimination laws.
New York has a paid sick leave law that requires employers with five or more employees or a net income of more than $1 million to provide paid sick leave to employees. For employers with fewer than five employees and a net income of $1 million or less, they are required to provide unpaid sick leave to employees. Workers accrue leave at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked.
While the law does not require an employee handbook or manual, that is an effective method of ensuring that employees are aware of company policies. Every employer should have an antidiscrimination/antiharassment policy and ensure that pay and benefits practices are clear to employees.
