Unshackle Upstate: New Regulations and Mandates Will Limit Economic Opportunity For All New Yorkers

April 10th, 2018

“While Governor Cuomo’s proposals are well intended, several of the new mandates contained in the Department of Labor’s report will place New York’s small businesses, large employers and not-for-profits at an even further competitive disadvantage without meaningfully addressing pay equity.

Employers of every size, shape and industry have repeatedly expressed concern with the Department of Labor’s proposed ‘on-call’ or ‘predictive’ scheduling regulations. New York’s proposed mandates go far beyond other states and jurisdictions and will be particularly punitive for the small businesses, seasonal employers, restaurant and hospitality industries, and non-profits that are so important to the Upstate economy.

We’re also troubled by the misguided push for the elimination of the tipped worker wage. If adopted by the Department of Labor, these burdensome Albany mandates would hurt employers that are already struggling to operate in the worst business climate in the nation and could lead to lower take home pay and reduced flexibility for workers.

Until Albany begins to value entrepreneurship and the employers who create jobs and provide opportunity, Upstate’s economy will continue to struggle and people will continue to leave New York.”