Monitoring Employees in the Workplace?

Effective May 7, 2022, New York State private employers must tell employees if the employer is monitoring or intercepting employees’ telephone conversation, transmissions, electronic mail or transmissions, internet access or usage by any “electronic device or system.” The New York attorney general is charged with enforcing the new law, so, at least for now, employees will not have the right to sue for violation of this law. Employers will face a maximum civil penalty of $500.00 for the first violation, $1,000.00 for the second violation, and $3000.00 for the third violation and each violation after the third violation.