New York Acts Against “Wage Thieves,” Multiplies Paperwork for All

New York Governor David Patterson has signed into law the provocatively named “Wage Theft Prevention Act” after passage by the state assembly on a largely party line vote earlier this month. The senate passed the bill last summer. The legislation had the strong support of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, and other unions and advocacy groups. This Alert reviews substantial amendments to the New York Labor Law resulting from the Wage Theft Prevention Act, which was recently signed into law by Governor David Patterson and which will become effective in mid-April 2011.