The New York State Department of Labor has changed its new hire wage and overtime pay rate reporting requirements, making the use of its new wage rate reporting form voluntary instead of mandatory.

On October 26, 2009, a new requirement charged employers with notifying newly hired employees in writing of their wage rate, overtime pay rate and designated pay day. Previously, there was no requirement that they be in writing. In October, the labor department also posted information on its website stating that use of and completion of a department designed reporting form was mandatory.

I’m pleased to report that the labor department has changed its position and has made use of its form voluntary.

Here is the link to the new information and the optional form.

Please contact Tom Minnick on the HR Line at 800.332.2117 with further questions about this new pay rate notification compliance.