Just after Thanksgiving, and perhaps lost in the holiday shuffle, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation creating an Office of Labor Standards. The new office will be responsible for investigating and enforcing violations of city labor laws.
It is not clear whether the new office will be under the jurisdiction of another agency or a stand-alone entity. No director has been appointed yet.
One of the less publicized purposes of the new law is to educate employers on labor laws to avoid labor law violations by unwary employers. Mirroring the New York State Department of Labor, the Office will also be empowered to conduct investigations, serve subpoenas, and impose civil penalties on businesses that violate NYC’s labor standards. Employees do not have a right to sue employers for violations under the new law.
A main reason the Office was created was to assume responsibility for of the Earned Sick Time Act, briefly administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs, which appeared to be a bit of an awkward fit. The Earned Sick Time Act mandates sick leave for all but the smallest New York City businesses.
You can read the legislation itself here: