he country’s first freelancer protections against nonpayment go into effect in New York City today, so now’s a good time to brush up on a law intended to help a full third of the city’s workforce get paid on time.
To recap, the law mandates that freelancers be paid in full for work worth $800 or more, either by a date set forward in writing or within 30 days of completing an assigned task. The Freelance Isn’t Free Act also aims to protect freelancers from employer retaliation, and can increase monetary consequences for employers who refuse to pay. We broke down the finer details last fall, with insights from the legislation’s author, Brooklyn Councilman Brad Lander, as well as the Freelancers Union, the Department of Consumer Affairs, and attorneys who represent both employers and workers.
“Starting today, New York City will be the first city in the nation to protect freelancers and independent contractors from getting stiffed,” Councilman Lander stated Monday. http://gothamist.com/2017/05/15/freelancer_law_nyc.php