NYDOL Issues Explanatory Statement On Recent Wage Order Amendment Codifying Its Longstanding Interpretation Of The "13-Hour Rule"

As we reported earlier this month,¹ the New York State Department of Labor ("NYDOL") issued an amendment, effective October 6, to its Minimum Wage Order for Miscellaneous Industries and Occupations to clarify that bona fide meal periods and sleep times may be excluded from hours worked by home care aides who work a shift of 24 hours or more in accordance with federal Fair Labor Standards Act regulations ("13-hour rule"). Because the NYDOL issued the amendment pursuant to the State Administrative Procedure Act as an emergency regulation, it is effective for only 90 days, and requires the publication of a statement explaining why the emergency regulation was necessary. The NYDOL issued that explanation today.