Dear valued clients and supporters: This month's newsletter will focus on: (1) New York City legislation, effective January 2016, expanding the right to pre-tax transit benefits for certain employees; (2) Governor Cuomo’s recently introduced statewide regulations prohibiting harassment and discrimination against transgender people; and (3) The first article in a two-part series focusing on executive severance packages and negotiations.
Beginning January 1, 2016, New York City companies with 20 or more full-time employees will be required to offer their employees pre-tax transit benefits. This legislation encourages employers to take advantage of an existing federal tax benefit that allows companies to offer workers $130 as pre-tax income for transportation costs. As a result of this law, the City anticipates employees will save $400 per year on MetroCard expenses and employers will annually save $100 per employee in tax liability. The Department of Consumer Affairs will enforce the law, which imposes fines on covered business who do not offer the required benefits. However, companies that fail to comply will be given a 90-day grace period to fix their violation before being subject to civil penalty. To allow businesses adequate time to adjust their practices, employers will not be subject to penalty before July 1, 2016.
Governor Cuomo recently introduced regulations by Executive Order that provide broad protections for transgender New Yorkers from unlawful discrimination. The statewide regulations prohibit harassment and discrimination against transgender people by all public and private employers, housing providers, businesses, creditors, and others. Cuomo’s order, to be enforced by the New York State Division of Human Rights, will be subject to a 45-day notice and comment period before being fully implemented. The regulations will provide the full force and protections of the existing New York Human Rights Law, which includes extensive compensation and other legal remedies for victims of discrimination and harassment, as well as stiff penalties for those who violate the law.
Executives who have been recently terminated and more importantly those that are considering leaving their current positions, including those that believe they are about to be terminated are urged to think more pro-actively about their severance packages. Rather than settle for what an employer may initially offer, if anything at all, executives should consider the benefits of developing a negotiation strategy that results in a package that makes their transition to the next phase of their lives and careers more manageable and equitable. The legal issues that generally determine what leverage, if any, an employee may have depends in large part on the rights under their specific executive employment agreements, any legal claims they may have against their employer, and other non-legal factors. To find out more about how to negotiate a better severance package from your employer, please read a more in-depth article posted here on our website.
Next month's newsletter will focus on the flip-side of the issues - Executive Compensation strategy.
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