Bill > S05526

This bill introduces new labor protections for workers in large retail, hospitality, and service industries by mandating a mandatory 10-hour rest period between work shifts. Specifically, employers with 500 or more full-time employees nationwide cannot schedule an employee to work during the first 10 hours after their previous work shift or on-call shift, whether that shift was within the same calendar day or spanned two calendar days. However, employees can voluntarily choose to work during these rest periods, in which case they must be compensated at one and a half times their regular pay rate. The bill also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who decline to work during these mandatory rest periods. Employers who violate these provisions can be fined $1,000 per violation and may be required to pay the affected employee damages of three times the value of owed wages or at least $100 for each work day of violation. The law would take effect 180 days after becoming law and applies to specific industries as defined by the North American Industry Classification System.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5526