{"id":8358,"date":"2021-01-19T13:45:15","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T18:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:10028\/uncategorized\/new-program-transforms-workers-into-owners\/"},"modified":"2021-01-19T13:45:15","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T18:45:15","slug":"new-program-transforms-workers-into-owners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/article\/new-program-transforms-workers-into-owners\/","title":{"rendered":"New Program Transforms Workers Into Owners"},"content":{"rendered":"

Corner delis and other mom-and-pop businesses dominate many areas of New York City. Beginning in 2021, when these owners retire, their workers might be able to fill their shoes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mayor Bill de Blasio predicted that the Employee Ownership NYC program would \u201cchange the rules of the game\u201d by providing up to $10,000 in support for erstwhile workers to become owners, when these owners retire.<\/p>\n

Deputy Mayor Phil Thompson said the program was especially necessary in the coronavirus era.<\/p>\n

Lockdowns have many owners looking to sell, and about 80 percent of them cannot find a buyer, he noted.<\/p>\n

Employee ownership is also good for workers of color. These workers have 30 percent higher wages at establishments owned by former workers, Thompson added.<\/p>\n

More information is available at owner2owners.nyc.<\/p>\n

Worker Rights<\/h2>\n

Many employees dream of the day they can become their own bosses.<\/p>\n

At the same time, many owners dream of the day when they can cash out and leave the rat race behind. On this level, the Employee Ownership NYC initiative benefits everyone.<\/p>\n

However, let the buyer beware.<\/p>\n

Even though you are the boss, you must still adhere to the rules, even if these rules affect your profit margins or otherwise restrict the way you do business.<\/p>\n

Although it went into effect in 2015, many employers are still getting used to New York City\u2019s ban the box law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Before the Fair Chance Act took effect, employers routinely asked potential employees about their criminal records. People with certain criminal histories are ineligible for certain positions, at least at a practical level.<\/p>\n

So, asking this question early in the process prevented employers from investing too much time in a dead-end applicant. It also prevented employees from getting their hopes up, at least arguably.<\/p>\n

But this question is now illegal at the initial screening level. Employers may only ask about applicant criminal records later in the process.<\/p>\n

A similar law prohibits most employers from asking most applicants about their credit scores.<\/p>\n

This prohibition also applies to background checks performed by third parties.<\/p>\n

Additionally, this prohibition could apply to \u201cback door\u201d credit questions, such as whether the applicant owns or rents.<\/p>\n

Other state and federal laws regulate wages, protect workers\u2019 broad right to organize, and monitor civil rights violations.<\/p>\n

The agencies in charge of these investigations, such as the National Labor Relations Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, are quite aggressive.<\/p>\n

Workplace Safety<\/h2>\n

Both visitors and workers have the right to be safe at business locations. Note we said \u201cvisitors\u201d and not \u201ccustomers.\u201d Window-shoppers and indirect guests, like guests of apartment tenants, have roughly the same rights<\/a> as everyone else.<\/p>\n

Especially in the COVID-19 era, business owners have a duty to provide healthy environments. When it comes to infectious disease control, this duty usually includes:<\/p>\n