Bill > S03946

This bill amends the New York labor law to provide employees with expanded legal rights to bring civil actions against employers who violate workplace safety and health standards. Specifically, the bill allows employees to file a lawsuit in court within three years of an alleged violation, with the court having broad powers to provide relief. This relief can include stopping the employer's harmful conduct, requiring the employer to pay the employee's legal costs and attorneys' fees, reinstating the employee to their former position (or providing front pay if reinstatement is not possible), and awarding lost compensation and damages. The bill also introduces a provision that pauses (or "tolls") the statute of limitations during any investigation by the labor commissioner, ensuring that employees are not penalized for time spent in an official review process. Importantly, the bill clarifies that an employee does not need to wait for or depend on a commissioner's investigation to pursue a civil action, giving workers more flexibility in seeking legal remedies for workplace safety violations.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3946