Bill > A05573

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 a workplace safety violation, with the court having broad powers to provide remedies. These remedies can include ordering the employer to stop the violating conduct, paying the employee's legal costs and attorneys' fees, reinstating the employee to their previous position (or providing front pay if reinstatement is not possible), and awarding lost compensation and damages. The bill also establishes that the statute of limitations can be paused (tolled) from the date an employee files a complaint with the labor commissioner or when the commissioner begins an investigation, until the investigation is concluded or an order to comply becomes final. Importantly, the bill clarifies that an employee does not need to wait for a commissioner's investigation to proceed with a civil lawsuit, nor does such an investigation prevent the employee from filing suit.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5573