Bill > A06480

This bill establishes the "No Severance Ultimatums Act", which sets new rules for severance agreements between employers and employees in New York. The bill defines key terms like "employee" and "employer" broadly, including governmental agencies, and specifies that a severance agreement is a document offered when an employment relationship ends that requires the employee to release potential legal claims. The legislation mandates that employers must provide employees with specific protections when offering severance agreements, including: (1) informing employees of their right to consult an attorney, (2) giving employees at least 21 calendar days to consider the agreement, (3) allowing employees a 7-day window to revoke the agreement after signing, and (4) ensuring that any early signing is truly voluntary and not coerced through threats or misrepresentation. The bill also allows for potential waivers of these provisions through collective bargaining agreements and declares that any severance agreement violating these provisions will be considered void and unenforceable. Importantly, the law is designed to provide minimum protections and does not prevent other laws from offering additional employee safeguards. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Housing and Urban Affairs, Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6480