Assemblyman Steve Otis (D - AD 91) announced passage of his legislation (A.7595) in the Assembly, to require that required workplace legal notices regarding the rights and protections of workers be made available by employers to employees electronically, either by e-mail or website.

Current law requires posting of Department of Labor and other documents make sure employees have access to information regarding their rights as employees. These documents are often lengthy, detailed and appear in small print and are generally posted on a bulletin board or wall at an indoor work location. They are also posted on walls or fences at outdoor work locations such as construction sites.

Assemblyman Otis said, “This legislation will empower workers by making sure they have meaningful access to the legally required notice of their workplace rights. Electronic access to employee rights under the labor law, as well as notice of health and safety protections, will ensure that notice keeps pace with today’s technology and make for a better workplace.”

Thomas Carey, President of Westchester Putnam AFL-CIO Central Labor Body said, “Once again, Assemblyman Steve Otis stands with labor to make certain the necessary documents are available for each worker entering a job site. These postings are designed to protect workers and inform them of their rights and safety standards required to work onsite. Many times these postings are destroyed by weather or other forms of vandalism early on in the construction phase, unable to give the ability for so many workers to understand their protections. Thank you Assemblyman Steve Otis for your continued support for the working men and women you represent.”

The new legislation would enhance the ability of employees to fully access and review these documents by requiring that these documents be made electronically available by employers.

The pandemic has further highlighted the need to make these documents available electronically. During the pandemic many employees have been working remotely and changes in workplace location patterns will continue to evolve even after the health crisis recedes. As such, the requirements that certain documents be posted in a workplace will not reach these employees.

By adding a digital requirement to these postings, employees will be able to access the documents at the device of their choosing, print documents and review them in a more thorough way.

Assemblyman Otis Chairs the Assembly Committee on Science and Technology. The legislation passed the Assembly on June 9th and has been referred to the Senate for consideration.