December 1, 2025: DCWP is monitoring Starbucks' compliance with its worker protection settlement. Former and current Starbucks workers can report violations by filing a complaint about the Fair Workweek Law for Fast Food Workers. If you have a general question, please complete our Ask a Question form.

Worker Rights

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Office of Labor Policy & Standards is NYC’s central resource for workers. We are a dedicated voice in City government for workers in NYC. We protect and promote labor standards and policies that create fair workplaces to ensure all workers can realize their rights, regardless of immigration status.

Right to Paid Prenatal Leave

Effective January 1, 2025, covered employers must provide 20 hours of paid prenatal leave. Paid prenatal leave is paid time off work that covered employees can use for healthcare during their pregnancy or related to their pregnancy, including fertility treatment and end of pregnancy care.

If your employer is not providing you with paid prenatal leave, file a complaint with DCWP. Please include ‘paid prenatal leave’ when you describe your complaint.
If you have questions, read our FAQ or ask DCWP a question online.

Know Your Rights at Work

Read the Workers' Bill of Rights, a comprehensive guide to rights in the workplace in New York City.

Local Law 161 of 2023 requires employers in New York City to give their employees information about their rights at work.

Employers must post the multilingual "Know Your Rights at Work" poster at each NYC workplace where employees can easily see it.
Employers must give a copy of the poster to each employee by July 1, 2024. After July 1, employers must give a copy of the poster to new employees on or before their first day of work.
Employers must make the poster available on any online platform used to communicate with their employees, such as a company intranet or app.

Download the multilingual "Know Your Rights at Work" poster: Printer-Friendly Version | Digitally Accessible Version

For more information or to file a complaint about a violation of the above obligations: Ask a question | File a complaint

Protected Time Off

If you work part time or full time at any size business or nonprofit in NYC or if you work in an NYC household as a domestic worker, you have the right to up to 72 or 88 hours of protected time off a year to care for yourself or anyone you consider family. Learn more about NYC's Protected Time Off Law.

Workplace Protections for Specific Workers

Learn about workplace protections for specific workers including:

Fast Food Workers covered by NYC's Fair Workweek Law
Retail Workers covered by NYC's Fair Workweek Law
Freelance Workers
Delivery Workers
Paid Care Workers
Grocery Workers covered under the Grocery Worker Retention Act
Hotel Workers
Building Service Workers covered by the Displaced Building Service Workers Protection Act
Temporary Construction Workers
Utility Workers covered by NYC's Fair Workweek Law

Additional Workplace Laws

Learn about workplace laws designed to improve working conditions:

Workplace Complaints

DCWP enforces workplace laws and may initiate investigations against a business in response to worker complaints. File a workplace complaint if you believe a business is not in compliance with any of the workplace laws mentioned above.

Worker Protection Survey

DCWP’s Office of Labor Policy & Standards regularly distributes surveys to New York City workers via email or text message. Survey responses help DCWP understand whether employers are following worker protection laws. DCWP will keep your name confidential and won’t share it with employers.

If you received a survey, you can verify the link is from DCWP if it ends with nyc.gov. DCWP will never ask you for personal financial information.

If you received a survey and have questions, ask DCWP a question.