"2024 Ushers in Higher Minimum Wage and Key Legal Changes for New Yorkers"

New York celebrated the new year with an increase in the minimum wage to $16 in New York City and some suburbs, and $15 in the rest of the state, as part of a series of annual increases that will continue until 2026. This increase is in line with a broader trend across 22 states raising their minimum wages, with future hikes in New York to be tied to inflation. The move, resulting from an agreement between Governor Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature, aims to adjust wages in response to cost of living changes, despite some opposition.