STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8154 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY October 13, 2023 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. JOYNER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing the "no severance ultimatums act" The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as 2 the "no severance ultimatums act". 3 § 2. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 215-d to read as 4 follows: 5 § 215-d. Prohibition against severance ultimatums. 1. Definitions. For 6 the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the follow- 7 ing meanings: 8 (a) "Employee" shall have the same meaning as set forth in section one 9 hundred ninety of this chapter. 10 (b) "Employer" shall: 11 (i) have the same meaning as set forth in section one hundred ninety 12 of this chapter; and 13 (ii) include governmental agencies. 14 2. Severance ultimatums prohibited. Any employer offering an employee 15 or former employee an agreement related to such employee's severance 16 from employment shall notify such employee that: 17 (a) Such employee has the right to consult an attorney regarding such 18 agreement, and provide such employee with a reasonable period of time 19 not less than twenty-one business days in which to do so; 20 (b) Such employee may revoke such agreement within seven days of the 21 execution of such agreement, and the agreement shall not become effec- 22 tive or enforceable until such revocation period has expired; and 23 (c) Such employee may sign such agreement prior to the end of such 24 revocation period, as long as such employee's decision to shorten such EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD11903-01-3

A. 8154 2 1 revocation period is knowing, voluntary, and not induced by the employer 2 through fraud, misrepresentation, or a threat to withdraw or alter such 3 revocation period prior to the expiration of such revocation period, or 4 by providing different terms to such employee if such employee signs 5 such agreement prior to the expiration of such revocation period. 6 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

Establishes the "no severance ultimatums act"

What's Happening

Why It Matters