Worker Rights

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)—formerly known as the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)—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.

Know Your Rights at Work

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

By July 1, 2024, all employers in New York City must post the required multilingual "Know Your Rights at Work" poster where employees can easily see it and give a copy to each employee.

Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law

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 40 or 56 hours of leave a year to care for yourself or anyone you consider family. Learn more about NYC's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law.

Workplace Protections for Specific Workers

Learn about workplace protections for specific workers including:

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.

Labor-Related Deferred Action FAQs

Deferred action is when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses its discretion in immigration matters and provides a noncitizen worker temporary protection from deportation for a period of time, usually up to two years. If a worker makes a request, DCWP can submit a letter (or a Statement of Interest) in support of a deferred action request when a worker is covered by a DCWP labor investigation or enforcement action. Read Labor-Related Deferred Action FAQs.