Empire State Today

On January 1, 2025, New York State will implement two key changes affecting small business owners. Minimum wage across the state is set to rise by $0.50. In the New York Metropolitan area, encompassing New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, the wage will increase from $16 to $16.50 per hour, while the rest of the state will see an increase from $15 to $15.50 per hour.

This wage adjustment will be followed by another $0.50 increase on January 1, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, the minimum wage will be linked to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) and adjusted annually. Mechanisms are in place to halt these increases in case of economic downturns or budgetary issues.

In addition, New York State will introduce paid prenatal leave beginning the same day. This new measure, as part of Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State proposal, mandates 20 hours of paid sick leave for pregnancy-related medical appointments, supplementing the existing sick leave benefits for privately employed pregnant individuals.

These changes reflect ongoing efforts to support workers' rights and public health in New York.

For further details, visit:

https://dol.ny.gov/minimum-wage-0

https://www.ny.gov/programs/new-york-state-paid-prenatal-leave