Worker Rights

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)—formerly known as the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)—Office of Labor Policy & Standards is NYC’s central resource for workers. We are a dedicated voice in City government for workers in NYC. We protect and promote labor standards and policies that create fair workplaces to ensure all workers can realize their rights, regardless of immigration status.

Know Your Rights at Work

Read the Workers' Bill of Rights, a comprehensive guide to rights in the workplace in New York City.

Local Law 161 of 2023 requires employers in New York City to give their employees information about their rights at work.

• Employers must post the multilingual "Know Your Rights at Work" poster at each NYC workplace where employees can easily see it.
• Employers must give a copy of the poster to each employee by July 1, 2024. After July 1, employers must give a copy of the poster to new employees on or before their first day of work.
• Employers must make the poster available on any online platform used to communicate with their employees, such as a company intranet or app.

Temporary Schedule Change Law

Under NYC’s Temporary Schedule Change Law, covered employees have a right to temporary changes to their work schedule for certain “personal events.”

Under Local Law 146 of 2023, which took effect on March 4, 2024, employers must distribute materials containing information related to the Law to their employees in both electronic and print format. Employers may comply with this requirement by providing each employee a printed copy of the multilingual "Know Your Rights at Work" poster and sending each employee a link to the Workers’ Bill of Rights webpage by text or email.

Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law

If you work part time or full time at any size business or nonprofit in NYC or if you work in an NYC household as a domestic worker, you have the right to up to 40 or 56 hours of leave a year to care for yourself or anyone you consider family. Learn more about NYC's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law.

Workplace Protections for Specific Workers

Learn about workplace protections for specific workers including:

• Fast Food Workers covered by NYC's Fair Workweek Law
• Retail Workers covered by NYC's Fair Workweek Law
• Freelance Workers
• Delivery Workers
• Paid Care Workers
• Grocery Workers covered under the Grocery Worker Retention Act
• Building Service Workers covered by the Displaced Building Service Workers Protection Act
• Temporary Construction Workers
• Utility Workers covered by NYC's Fair Workweek Law

Additional Workplace Laws

Learn about workplace laws designed to improve working conditions:

• Living Wage
• Minimum Wage
• Commuter Benefits
• Temporary Schedule Change

Workplace Complaints

DCWP enforces workplace laws and may initiate investigations against a business in response to worker complaints. File a workplace complaint if you believe a business is not in compliance with any of the workplace laws mentioned above.

Worker Protection Survey

DCWP’s Office of Labor Policy & Standards regularly distributes surveys to New York City workers via email or text message. Survey responses help DCWP understand whether employers are following worker protection laws. DCWP will keep your name confidential and won’t share it with employers.

If you received a survey, you can verify the link is from DCWP if it ends with nyc.gov. DCWP will never ask you for personal financial information.

If you received a survey and have questions, ask DCWP a question.

Labor-Related Deferred Action FAQs

Deferred action is when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses its discretion in immigration matters and provides a noncitizen worker temporary protection from deportation for a period of time, usually up to two years. If a worker makes a request, DCWP can submit a letter (or a Statement of Interest) in support of a deferred action request when a worker is covered by a DCWP labor investigation or enforcement action. Read Labor-Related Deferred Action FAQs.