New York State Passes Phone, Email, and Internet Monitoring Notice Law

On November 8, 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law which requires employers to provide notice to employees of the employer’s electronic monitoring of telephone, email, and internet access and usage. This law will go into effect on May 7, 2022.

Under this law, all private employers with a place of business in New York State must provide written notice to all new employees, upon hire, if they plan to monitor or intercept telephone or email communications or internet access or usage by the employee.

Caroline SecolaNovember 22, 2021Handbooks, Onboarding, Employee Monitoring

COVID-19 Causes U.S. Department of Homeland Security to Announce Flexibility Regarding I-9s for Remote Employers

The requirement that employers inspect original documents in person and in the presence of the new employee has posed significant challenges for employers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Employers may have instituted remote work policies or other social distancing measures that make physical inspection of original employment authorization documents and in-person meetings with new employees impracticable for the foreseeable future. This difficulty has been exacerbated by the recently issued Executive Orders from various states which require non-essential businesses to work solely from home. In response to these challenges, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last Friday that it will defer the physical presence requirements for employment authorization verification for employers and workplaces that are operating remotely

Amanda BakerMarch 23, 2020Virus, Pandemic, Onboarding, I-9