Handbookly state guide
New York Employee Handbook Requirements: Required Policies, Posters & Notices
What New York law actually requires in an employee handbook: required policies with citations, headcount thresholds, and the mandatory poster list — plus the federal baseline every employer owes.
Required at any size in New York
These written policies are legally required of every New York employer, regardless of headcount. Each row cites the law that creates the requirement.
| Policy | Legal basis | Applies at | What it must cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sexual harassment prevention policy | N.Y. Lab. Law § 201-g | all sizes | Written prevention policy meeting the state model standard, plus annual interactive prevention training for every employee — required of ALL New York employers regardless of size. |
| Lactation accommodation policy | N.Y. Lab. Law § 206-c | all sizes | Written lactation-accommodation policy distributed at hire; paid break time for expression of breast milk. |
| Sick leave policy | N.Y. Lab. Law § 196-b | all sizes | Sick leave for all sizes; PAID sick leave at 5+ employees (or $1M+ net income); accrual and use rules must be communicated. |
| Wage notice & pay practices (Wage Theft Prevention Act) | N.Y. Lab. Law § 195 | all sizes | Written notice of pay rate and payday at hire; pay-practices section of the handbook should mirror it. |
| Paid family leave policy | N.Y. Workers' Comp. Law §§ 200–242 (PFL) | all sizes | Insurance-based paid family leave; employee eligibility and contribution rules belong in the handbook. |
The federal baseline
Federal law applies on top of state law, in every state.
| Policy | Legal basis | Applies at | What it must cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal employment opportunity & anti-discrimination policy | Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; the ADA (15+ employees); the ADEA (20+) | 15+ employees | Federal discrimination law binds at 15+ employees; a written EEO policy is the standard compliance posture at every size. |
| Pay practices (FLSA) section | Fair Labor Standards Act (recordkeeping & minimum wage/overtime) | all sizes | The FLSA does not mandate a written policy, but pay schedule, classification, and overtime rules belong in every handbook. |
Required posters & notices in New York
Posting is a separate legal obligation from having written policies. Download current versions free from each issuing agency.
New York State Minimum Wage poster
New York State Department of Labor
Sexual Harassment prevention poster
New York State Department of Labor / Division of Human Rights
Notice of Compliance — Workers' Compensation
New York State Workers' Compensation Board
Paid Family Leave notice
New York State Workers' Compensation Board
Leave laws to know
New York adds paid family leave (insurance-based), state sick leave, and NYC-specific ordinances (safe/sick time, salary-transparency) for city employers.
Get the complete New York handbook pack
Answer a few questions and get a complete employee handbook for your New York business: every required policy above drafted for your headcount and marked required or best practice, the poster checklist, and an employee acknowledgment form. $249, one time.
Frequently asked questions
Does New York require an employee handbook?
No US state requires a handbook document itself — but New York does require specific written policies and notices (this page lists 5 that apply at any size, each with its citation), and the handbook is where employers conventionally publish them. A written policy you can point to is also what protects you in a dispute.
Which policies are legally required in New York?
Sexual harassment prevention policy (N.Y. Lab. Law § 201-g); Lactation accommodation policy (N.Y. Lab. Law § 206-c); Sick leave policy (N.Y. Lab. Law § 196-b); Wage notice & pay practices (Wage Theft Prevention Act) (N.Y. Lab. Law § 195); Paid family leave policy (N.Y. Workers' Comp. Law §§ 200–242 (PFL)). Requirements that only bind above a headcount threshold are listed separately on this page. Federal requirements — like EEO under Title VII at 15+ employees — apply on top of New York law.
What posters must a New York employer display?
New York requires: New York State Minimum Wage poster (New York State Department of Labor); Sexual Harassment prevention poster (New York State Department of Labor / Division of Human Rights); Notice of Compliance — Workers' Compensation (New York State Workers' Compensation Board); Paid Family Leave notice (New York State Workers' Compensation Board). Federal posters — the FLSA minimum-wage poster, the EEOC "Know Your Rights" poster, and the OSHA "Job Safety and Health" poster — are required on top of these.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is informational document preparation built from public statutes and agency publications, each linked below. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. For a specific dispute or a complex workforce, consult an employment attorney licensed in New York.
Sources
- https://dol.ny.gov/
- https://www.ny.gov/programs/combating-sexual-harassment-workplace
- https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/
Informational document preparation from public statutes and agency publications — not legal advice. Laws change; verify current requirements with the agencies above.