New York employment laws dictate how employers must pay employees, and extensive information is available about Wage and Hours laws that require employers’ compliance.
According to the New York Department of Labor, employers frequently ask the following two questions about wages.
What information must an employer’s payroll records contain?
Employers’ payroll records must show information for each week an employee works. Records must show the following:
- The total hours worked each day
- The total hours worked for the week
- The rate or rates of pay and basis (by the hour, shift, day, week, salary, piece, commission or other)
- Whether the employer paid more than one hourly rate and the number of hours worked at each rate
- Whether the employer paid piece rates and the number of pieces completed at each piece rate
- Gross wages
- Deductions
- Allowances or credits, if any, claimed as part of the minimum wage
- Net wages
Overtime Records
When the employee works overtime and the law requires that the employee be paid at a higher rate for overtime hours, the payroll record must show the items below (in addition to the items above):
- The number of regular hours worked
- The regular hourly rate or rates of pay
- The number of overtime hours worked
- The overtime rates of pay
May employers deduct money from wages?
Employers are permitted to deduct certain items from their employee’s wages, including:
- Taxes
- Insurance premiums
- Union dues
Employers are not permitted to deduct the following from employees’ wages:
- Charges to employees for breakages
- Cash shortages
- Fines
- Other losses to the business
Get Legal Help to Deal with New York Wage and Hours Law
If you have questions as to whether you are in compliance with wage and hour laws, Stephen Hans & Associates can assist you. Our firm offers seasoned legal guidance to advise and represent employers with employment issues.