NY A00375

Removes the exclusion of part-time employees from employment definitions and threshold calculations for determining when employers must provide notice of facility closings or mass layoffs.

Expands the definition of "employer" to include affiliates and changes the threshold from 50 employees to include all employees regardless of hours worked.

Eliminates the discretionary authority of the commissioner to reduce penalties for employers who violate notice requirements in good faith; limits penalty reductions only to situations involving natural disasters.

Removes the 60-day maximum cap on back pay calculations, allowing back pay to be calculated for up to one-half the total length of an employee's employment with the employer.

Requires employers to pay severance of one week's pay per year of employment to affected employees during facility closings, relocations, or mass layoffs; adds four additional weeks of severance for employers who fail to provide required notice.

Authorizes the attorney general to seek injunctions and take enforcement action to help employees receive back pay and other liabilities owed by employers.