Two new pieces of legislation enacted in New York offer protections for workers in the warehouse and fashion industries.
The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act (Assembly Bill 8907A) adds safety protections for certain workers in warehouse settings. It will go into effect on June 1, 2025. Employers that directly or indirectly employ 100+ employees at one warehouse distribution center or 1,000+ employees in one or more warehouse distribution center must comply. The requirements include:
- Training employees on reducing injuries
- Developing a formal injury reduction program
- Working with employees to identify risks of injuries in the workplace and minimize them
A qualified ergonomist must also evaluate risk factors that cause (or may cause) musculoskeletal injuries. The deadline for this requirement is June 19, 2025.
Review the full details of the act.
Workplace protections under the Fashion Workers Act (Senate Bill 9382) relate to working with models in the state. It includes both employees and independent contractors who offer fit, showroom, or parts modeling services or who participate in performances, exhibitions, or entertainment with modeling services.
The requirements include:
- Offering employment that doesn’t pose an unreasonable risk of danger
- Maintaining adequate levels of liability insurance
- Allowing models to be accompanied by agents, representatives, chaperones, and/or managers
- Ensuring that any nudity or sexually explicit requirements comply with the Civil Rights law
When models work over eight hours in a 24-hour period, they must receive an hourly rate that is at least 50% over the contracted rate and a 30-minute meal break.
Additionally, using a digital replica of a model’s likeness requires compliance with the legislation.
View more information about the act.
This article is informational and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with an employment lawyer or accountant for additional clarification on how these changes impact your company.
