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Employees in New York are protected from retaliation when they report workplace conduct they reasonably believe violates the law. Under New York Labor Law Section 740, employers generally cannot fire, discipline, demote, or otherwise punish workers for certain whistleblowing activities. These protections apply to many employees throughout Westchester County and can...

Not every layoff is purely about budget cuts or restructuring. In some situations, an employer may use a layoff as cover for unlawful discrimination based on age, race, gender, disability, pregnancy, or another protected characteristic. Employees in Westchester County who notice suspicious patterns surrounding a layoff may have legal rights worth...

Employees who take protected leave are generally entitled to return to their jobs without retaliation or punishment. If an employer terminates an employee shortly after medical leave, family leave, pregnancy leave, utilizing sick time, or another legally protected absence, the termination may be unlawful. In Westchester County, employees may have legal...

A difficult workplace is not always illegal, but repeated harassment, discrimination, or intimidation tied to a protected characteristic can create a hostile work environment under New York law. Warning signs may include ongoing offensive comments, targeting by supervisors or coworkers, retaliation after complaints, or workplace conduct that interferes with your ability...

A negative performance review is not automatically illegal. Employers in New York can critique performance, issue disciplinary write-ups, and evaluate employees honestly. However, when a poor review appears shortly after you report discrimination, request medical leave, complain about harassment or other unlawful conduct, or participate in a workplace investigation, it may be...

Workplace retaliation often begins shortly after an employee speaks up about something unlawful or inappropriate at work. You may notice sudden disciplinary action, exclusion from projects, negative performance reviews, schedule changes, or increased scrutiny that did not exist before. While not every workplace conflict is illegal retaliation, noticeable changes in treatment...

New York Paid Family Leave (PFL) provides eligible employees with paid, job-protected time off to care for family members or handle certain personal situations. In most cases, workers can take up to 12 weeks of leave while receiving a percentage of their wages. Understanding how the program works can help you...

If your employer refuses to pay overtime, you may have a wage and hour claim under federal and New York law. Most employees must receive overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a week. When that doesn’t happen, there are specific steps you can...

New York law allows eligible employees to take up to 20 hours of paid prenatal leave each year for pregnancy-related medical care. This benefit is separate from sick leave and Paid Family Leave, and it is designed to ensure you can attend necessary medical appointments without losing pay.

As of January 1, 2026, the minimum wage for most employees working in Westchester County is $17.00 per hour, the same regional rate that applies in New York City and Long Island. To check whether your paycheck meets this requirement, compare your hourly rate and hours worked with the wages listed on...

Proving wrongful termination in an at-will employment state like New York requires showing that an employer fired you for an illegal reason, such as discrimination, retaliation, or reporting unlawful conduct. Evidence used to prove wrongful termination may include emails, internal complaints, disciplinary records, witness statements, or circumstances indicating that the employer’s...