Practice Areas

Kristine Sova provides an array of labor and employment legal services in a variety of industries across both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Her labor and employment legal services are listed below. Click any section to read more.

How to Craft a Non-Discriminatory Paternity Leave Policy

Historically, many employers provided paid maternity leave to mothers, while providing little to no leave to fathers. While employers may provide leave that is tied to childbirth to birth mothers only, nowadays, employers must provide post-childbirth leave for bonding and childcare purposes to both male and females on an equal basis. Failure to do so … Read more

New York Paid Family Leave Forms Are Available

The New York Workers’ Compensation Board has prepared and released the forms necessary for implementing the New York Paid Family Leave Law, which goes into effect on January 1, 2018. The forms are available on the New York State website. The available forms include the PFL-1 form, through which employees may request leave, and other … Read more

NYC’s Commuter Benefits Law Effective January 1

Beginning January 1, 2016, unless otherwise exempted, NYC employers with 20 or more full-time employees must offer full-time employees the opportunity to use pre-tax income to pay for their commute. The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), the same agency responsible for enforcing the NYC Earned Sick Time Act (Paid Sick Leave Law), has responsibility for … Read more

How to Address Sick Leave Abuse

It’s summertime, and that means an influx of employees calling in sick on Mondays and Fridays when they’re really not sick.   Summertime sick time is one example of sick leave abuse, which often translates into administrative headaches and lost dollars for employers. How can an employer remedy sick leave abuse, whether it’s during the summer … Read more

Curing Common Misconceptions about COBRA

Confusion abounds whenever the subject of COBRA arises, especially with smaller employers and owner-operated businesses.  The most common misconception I’ve encountered is that an eligible employee simply receives COBRA benefits because he/she is eligible without the employer (or someone designated by the employer) having to actually facilitate COBRA benefits.  This is simply wrong. COBRA isn’t … Read more

New Year, New Laws

Each new year brings new employment laws.  In this post, we provide highlights of legislation passed in 2013 that will affect (and, in some cases, already is affecting) New York and NYC employers in 2014. Pregnancy Accommodation (NYC Employers) Legislation amending the New York City Human Rights Law will require most NYC employers to provide … Read more

October 1, 2013 Deadline for Employers under the Affordable Care Act

Even though the Obama Administration delayed implementation of the employer health coverage mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act) until January 15, 2015, employers must still let their employees know about health care options by October 1st of this year. All employers who are subject to the federal Fair Labor … Read more

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