N.Y. Labor Law Section 696-E
Records of employers

For every employee covered by this article, every employer shall establish, maintain, and preserve for not less than six years contemporaneous, true, and accurate payroll records showing for each week worked the hours worked, the compensation provided, plus such other information as the commissioner deems material and necessary. For all covered airport workers who are not exempt from overtime compensation as established in the commissioner’s minimum wage orders or otherwise provided by law, rule, or regulation, the payroll records shall include the compensation provided and the regular hourly rate or rates of pay, the overtime rate or rates of pay, the number of regular hours worked, the number of overtime hours worked and the cost of benefits and/or benefit supplements. On demand, the employer shall furnish to the commissioner or his or her duly authorized representative a sworn statement of the hours worked, rate or rates of compensation, for each covered airport worker, plus such other information as the commissioner deems material and necessary. Every employer shall keep such records open to inspection by the commissioner or his or her duly authorized representative at any reasonable time. Every employer of a covered airport worker shall keep a digest and summary of this article which shall be prepared by the commissioner, posted in a conspicuous place in his or her establishment and shall also keep posted such additional copies of said digest and summary as the commissioner prescribes. Employers shall, on request, be furnished with copies of this article and of orders, and of digests and summaries thereof, without charge. Employers shall permit the commissioner or his or her duly authorized representative to question without interference any employee of such employer in a private location at the place of employment and during working hours in respect to the wages paid to and the hours worked by such employee or other employees. * NB Effective until January 1, 2026 * § 696-e. Penalties.

1.

If the commissioner finds that any employer has violated any provision of this article or of a rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, the commissioner may, after an opportunity for a hearing, and by an order which shall describe particularly the nature of the violation, assess the employer a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars for the first such violation within six years, not more than twenty thousand dollars for a second violation within six years and not more than fifty thousand dollars for a third or subsequent violation within six years. Such penalty shall be paid to the commissioner for deposit in the treasury of the state. In assessing the amount of the penalty, the commissioner shall give due consideration to the size of the employer’s business, the good faith basis of the employer to believe that its conduct was in compliance with the law, the gravity of the violation, the history of previous violations and the failure to comply with record-keeping or other requirements.

2.

Any order issued under subdivision one of this section shall be deemed a final order of the commissioner and not subject to review by any court or agency unless the employer files a petition with the industrial board of appeals for a review of the order, pursuant to § 101 (Review by industrial board of appeals)section one hundred one of this chapter.

3.

The civil penalty provided for in this section shall be in addition to and may be imposed concurrently with any other remedy or penalty provided for in this chapter.

4.

Upon a showing by an employee organization, the commissioner may investigate by examining payroll records whether an employer withheld hours of work to employees for the purpose of reducing the employer’s obligations under this article. If, after the opportunity for a hearing, the commissioner determines that an employer withheld hours of work to employees for the purpose of reducing the employer’s obligations under this article, the commissioner may, in addition to any other penalty available, also require that the employer pay the applicable standard rate to all of the employer’s employees, regardless of the number of hours worked by the employees. * NB Effective January 1, 2026

Source: Section 696-E — Records of employers, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/LAB/696-E (updated May 16, 2025; accessed Oct. 11, 2025).

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Verified:
Oct. 11, 2025

Last modified:
May 16, 2025

§ 696-E. Records of employers's source at nysenate​.gov

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