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.

Even More Myths About Hiring Independent Contractors

In two prior posts (Top Myths About Hiring Independent Contractors and More Myths About Hiring Independent Contractors), we identified six common misconceptions about the use of independent contractors, each of which continues to result in the misclassification of independent contractors by employers. Here, we identify two more common misconceptions about independent contractors that almost always lead to … Read more

Notice and Policy Requirements for New York Employers without Employee Handbooks

For one reason or another, there are a number of employers that don’t have an employee handbook. Usually it is because they are too new a business with too few employees to justify having one, or they consider handbooks oppressive documents that employees never read anyway. It’s not the subject of this post, so I … Read more

2019: A Quick Look at the Year Ahead for NYC Employers

As 2018 wraps up, it’s time to take a quick look at some of the changes New York City employers should expect in the year ahead. Minimum Wage Increases On December 31, 2018, New York’s minimum wage will increase as follows: NYC – Large Employers (of 11 or more) – $15.00/hour NYC – Small Employers … Read more

NYC Mayor Signs Law Barring Inquiries into an Applicant’s Salary History

On May 4, 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law an amendment to the New York City Human Rights Law that now restricts employers in New York City, with four or more employees, from inquiring into a prospective employee’s salary history during the interview and hiring process.  The restriction is part of a growing … Read more

Three Reasons Your Organization Needs Job Descriptions

Much like employee handbooks, federal and state laws do not require employers to have job descriptions for their employees.  That being said, there are a number of practical and legal benefits to having them, provided they are well-drafted.  Here, we’ll discuss three good reasons for your organization to have written job descriptions. Performance Management Written … Read more

More Myths About Hiring Independent Contractors

In a prior post titled Top Myths About Hiring Independent Contractors, we identified three common misconceptions about the use of independent contractors.  The absence of clear-cut rules about the kinds of workers who are and aren’t appropriately classified as independent contractors continues to result in the misclassification of independent contractors by employers.  Here, we identify three … Read more

Hiring Your First Worker? Read On.

Whether you’re working with independent contractors or hiring your first employee, building a business team brings with it a whole new area for compliance: labor and employment law. Labor and employment laws cover everything from payroll and workers compensation to workplace posters to preventing discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Unfortunately, there is no single … Read more

Interview Questions Not to Ask

Employers sometimes forget that it’s not just employees who can sue them, but applicants as well.  With the cost of defending a claim of discrimination at several hundred thousand dollars, and new laws in place that provide increased hiring protections for candidates, it’s more critical than ever for employers to conduct lawful employment interviews. As most … Read more

Top Myths about Hiring Independent Contractors

Many businesses rely on independent contractors, instead of employees, for their staffing needs.  The reasons for doing so are obvious – among them, savings in labor costs.  But misclassification of a worker as an independent contractor (as opposed to an employee) may have a number of legal consequences for a business, including: Payment of back … Read more

Final Days for NYC Employers to Check Their Hiring Practices Before Unemployed Law Goes Into Effect

On March 13, 2013, the New York City Council passed a bill amending the New York City Human Rights Law to protect the unemployed.  The new law goes into effect June 11, 2013 and generally prohibits discrimination based on an individual’s unemployment status and the posting of job advertisements requiring applicants to be employed. The … Read more

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