Do you have part-time workers who receive SNAP benefits? New federal work requirements could affect their eligibility for the program. These requirements apply to Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD), which includes anyone who is: - Not living with a child under 14, and
To receive SNAP benefits, ABAWDs must work or participate in qualifying activities for at least 20 hours per week (80 hours per month), or earn at least $217.50 per week, or meet an exemption. Learn more about these requirements and exemptions. Help your employees keep their benefits by sharing this information with them!
![infographic of SNAP Benefits]() | The New York State Department of Labor’s Division of Labor Standards has launched a new Strategic Enforcement Unit (SEU) to help workers and businesses better understand New York’s labor laws. Most labor law investigations only happen after someone has filed a complaint. The new SEU will take a more proactive approach by focusing on education, outreach, and targeted enforcement in industries where violations are more common. The unit will develop educational materials, conduct workshops, and offer industry-specific training sessions to help businesses understand the law and stay in compliance before enforcement actions take place. Initial focus areas will include child labor, new labor laws, and rapid response to large-scale unpaid wages and wage theft events. Over the next several years, the SEU will expand their focus to include industries like healthcare, retail warehouses, and restaurants. By integrating education, outreach, and enforcement, the SEU aims to protect workers by preventing labor violations before they happen. For more information, visit the Labor Standards webpage. |
For employers who still owe unpaid contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Trust fund, the fastest and most convenient way to pay the debt is through the Automated Clearing House (ACH). The ACH allows employers to make online payments directly from their business’s bank. The process is more cost effective than credit card payments and faster than traditional checks. Employers with UI debt as the result of changes to their business, a downturn in the economy, or even personal reasons should contact NYSDOL immediately so that we can work with together on a plan to pay down the debt. The NYSDOL Collections and Past Due Amounts webpage has more information about the ACH and paying down UI trust fund debt. As temperatures go up, so does the likelihood of work-related accidents, illnesses, injuries, and fatalities. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has provided a comprehensive guide for employers about protecting workers from dangerous weather conditions. Best Strategies to Protect Outdoor Workers from Extreme Weather
Employers can protect their workers from extreme temperatures using the following strategies:
- Rest & Relief: Provide work/rest schedules and personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Training: Educate workers so they know the signs and symptoms of weather-related illnesses and how to work safely during extreme weather events.
- Planning & Preparedness: Provide time for workers to acclimate to extreme temperatures, write down illness prevention plans, and outline emergency response procedures.
In addition to these core strategies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that employers provide each outdoor employee 32 ounces of drinking water per hour. Visit the Department’s page on Extreme Weather Guidance to learn more about how your organization can support employee health and safety. |
NYSDOL invites you to our Worker Protection Open Hours webinar series. These webinars will be held quarterly and will feature a topic overview followed by a Q&A session based on audience-submitted questions. Our webinars aim to address compliance with new labor laws. The upcoming topic in the series will cover Farm Labor Laws. Please visit our website for more information about the legal requirements for both employers and employees:
Webinar Details:
- Date: Monday, July 27, 2026
Interpretation Information:
- Language support available upon request at time of registration. Please make all such requests before July 3, 2026.
Upcoming Webinar Topics:
- October 2026 – Safety and Health - Best Practices
All webinars will be recorded and uploaded to the NYSDOL Worker Protection Open Hours website, along with any additional FAQs. Summer officially starts on June 21, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get ahead of your seasonal hiring needs. Our Seasonal Jobs Bank is a terrific, free resource for businesses to reach a large audience of job seekers that meet their seasonal and holiday hiring needs. Posting a job to our databank is simple and immediate, meaning you won't have to wait for qualified job seekers in your area to start applying. Don’t wait until summer is here — start hiring today! Post your open jobs on our Seasonal Job Bank and visit the New York State Job Bank for more information! In honor of Father’s Day, NYSDOL is reminding working dads about the many benefits and protections New York State has to support them, including vital resources to help families access these systems. Paid Family Leave
A nation-leading Paid Family Leave policy provides eligible employees with job-protected, paid time off to:
- Bond with a newly born, adopted, or fostered child
- Care for a family member with a serious health condition
- Assist loved ones when a spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent is deployed abroad on active military service
Taking Paternity Leave is a powerful investment in your family, child, and career, that delivers concrete benefits for the entire family:
- Financial Security: Receive job-protected paid time off to help ensure your family's financial stability remains secure.
- Deeper Connection: Build a strong foundation for a lasting relationship during vital early development stages.
- Shared Responsibility: Paternity Leave helps establish equitable caregiving from day one, leading to stronger long-term partnerships and well-being for both parents.
- Positive Career Trajectories: By ensuring both parents can utilize job-protected leave, the program contributes to overall gender equity, reducing the impact of caregiving solely on the mother’s career.
New York State is committed to making it easier for fathers to access these crucial benefits. Visit the DOL webpage for more information on Paternity Leave and Child Care Resources.
Services for Working Families
The new Services for Working Families hub is a user-friendly website to help families navigate needs and services for varying stages of life and work. Whether preparing to go on parental leave, searching for childcare assistance, or getting a young New Yorker ready to enter the workforce, New York State can help.
Free online courses through Coursera
Unemployed New York State residents over the age of 18 are eligible to sign up for a free Coursera account. Coursera offers nearly 4,000 programs and online courses across high-growth industries, with many offering pathways to certifications and professional certificates. |
World Day Against Child Labor will be observed on June 12. Forced child labor has massive ramifications—loss of education, injury or even death from hazardous work environments, mental health trauma, and the violation of the most fundamental rights. In New York State, all workers are protected under the state’s labor law regardless of their age. Youth workers have additional rights to protect their safety at work and outside of the workplace. The New York State Department of Labor is committed to protecting minors in the workforce and help businesses comply with labor laws. For more information, please visit the Department’s Child Labor Law Hub. Implemented in June of 2025, The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program required employers covered by the Warehouse Worker Protection Act to incorporate an injury reduction program. Key components of a successful program include:
- A written worksite evaluation identifying and assessing ergonomic risk factors likely to cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders
- Employer action to limit and reduce the workplace factors and conditions that may cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders
- Injury reduction training for both employees and supervisors
- On-site medical and first aid practices
The injury reduction program must be developed in collaboration with employees. Learn more about how employers can promote workplace safety and protect their employees:
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