New York is often a bellwether for national policy. These updates may soon reach your state — business owners should prepare accordingly.

Senate Bill 1514: Independent Contractor Crackdown

A new bill passed unanimously in the NY Senate and now pending in the Assembly could dramatically change how businesses use contract labor.

What’s at stake:

If the NY Department of Labor determines that a business knowingly misclassified employees as independent contractors — or misreported employee counts to insurers — it can issue an immediate Stop-Work Order, halting operations.

Read the bill → https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1514

Key concerns for business owners:

Undermines due process protections

Introduces vague enforcement standards

Disproportionately impacts small and rural businesses

Immediate Work Stoppage at your place of business

What you can do:

Consultech and its partners are actively lobbying against this legislation. We are in direct contact with the lawmakers making these decisions.

Contact us to learn how you can support the effort or prepare your business for compliance.

Minimum Wage Increase

Effective 2027:

NYC, Long Island, Westchester: $17.00/hour

Rest of New York State: $16.00/hour

Action Step:

Review your labor cost projections and update budgets accordingly.

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Rate Spike

The maximum weekly benefit is increasing from $504 to $869 — a 72% jump.

Why it matters:

Higher benefits = higher UI tax rates for employers and immediate impact on reimbursable employers.

Fight claims when possible. We can help you challenge questionable filings and reduce your liability.

⚠️ Sexual Harassment Training Compliance

New York mandates some of the strictest training requirements in the country.

We offer discounted, compliant training programs that protect your business and save you money.

Let’s Talk

If you have questions about these changes or want to schedule a compliance review, contact Consultech today. We’re here to help you stay ahead of the curve.