Senate Passes Mandate Relief For NY Businesses

ALBANY, 02/29/12 – The New York State Senate today passed legislation to repeal the notification provisions of the Wage Theft Protection Act, a costly mandate on every employer in the state.

Senator Seward co-sponsored the bill (S.6063A) which amends the labor law by eliminating a costly wage reporting requirement which costs employers time and money while doing nothing to help employees or create jobs.

“When I released my Keys for Success at the start of the legislative session I promised to target over-regulation of our business community – this is a step in fulfilling that promise,” said Senator Seward.  “In order to attract new companies to our state and help existing businesses expand, onerous regulations must be dismissed.”

The legislation co-sponsored by Senator Seward repeals a mandate enacted in 2010 that requires employers to supply all employees with a lengthy annual wage notice.  There are seven different forms depending on the type of pay (hourly, salary, etc).  Businesses are also required to obtain a written acknowledgement of the receipt of this notice from every employee and retain records of it for six years.

“While employee protections play an important role in the workplace, this requirement does nothing but drive up the cost of doing business in a state already synonymous with over-regulation.  Administrative and litigation expenses total millions statewide thanks to this unneeded constraint on small businesses,” Seward added.

Mike Durant, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said, “Today’s action in the senate significantly reformed one of the most onerous mandates on small businesses.  NFIB now calls on the assembly to act on this legislation to help small businesses across the state lower their significant costs and to repair New York’s reputation as being anti-business.”

“Businesses need to know that state government is ready to partner with them.  Cutting pointless government red tape is a step in the right direction,” Seward concluded.

The bill was sent to the assembly.

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