Update applicable to:
All home health care agencies and home care staffing agencies with employees performing work in the state of New York
What happened?
Governor Hochul signed the New York State Budget for fiscal year 2023-2024 into law on May 3, 2023, bringing with it sweeping changes to the way employers will operate.
What are the details?
Initially, it is important to note that the $1 hourly increase in the minimum wage for home care workers in New York State, slated to take effect October 2023, will not occur as was planned. Instead, starting January 1, 2024, the minimum wage for home care workers will now increase three times over three years.
As with other minimum wage increases, the wage increases differ between the five counties in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester County (“Downstate”), and the other 54 counties (“Remainder of the State”). Wage increases are now scheduled as follows:
| Date of Increase | Amount |
| January 1, 2024 | $18.55 Downstate (NYC, Long Island, and Westchester) $17.55 Remainder of State |
| January 1, 2025 | $19.10 Downstate $18.10 Remainder of State |
| January 1, 2026 | $19.65 Downstate $18.65 Remainder of State |
Further, at no point will the home care worker minimum wage rate exceed $3.00/hour more than the minimum wage applicable to non-home health care workers in the state.
For more information, please see the links below:
What do employers need to do?
Employers should review the above article from the Littler Law Firm and review company budgets and forecast for the upcoming rate increases to plan accordingly. Employers should seek legal counsel from their employment attorney with any of the state’s upcoming requirements for the industry.
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