New York City has passed a new law directing employers who provide at least one security guard in the city to provide their security guard employees with minimum wage, paid vacation time and supplemental benefits that meet or exceed the minimum wage, paid vacation time and supplemental benefits required for private sector security guards engaged on New York City public building service contracts in excess of $1,500.
- Beginning January 1, 2027, an employer must pay a wage to a security guard for each hour worked that meets or exceeds the wage requirements for private sector security guards engaged on New York city public building service contracts in excess of $1,500.
- Beginning January 1, 2028, an employer must provide a security guard with paid time off benefits that meet or exceed the paid time off benefits required for private sector security guards engaged on New York city public building service contracts in excess of $1,500.
- Beginning January 1, 2029, a security guard employer must pay a supplemental benefit to a security guard that meets or exceeds the supplemental benefits required for private sector security guards engaged on New York city public building service contracts in excess of $1,500.
Employers must also provide a notice of rights to security guards at the commencement of employment or, for security guards who were already employed prior to the effective date this law (i.e., July 28, 2026), within 30 days of the effective date. Such notice may be provided in electronic format, and must be in English and the primary language of the security guard. The city will publish the notice and make it available on the city’s website.
To prepare, covered employers can consider taking the following action steps:
- Identify whether the organization employs or contracts with any security guards working within New York City.
- Review current wage rates for security guards and ensure they will meet or exceed the required minimum wage standard by January 1, 2027, aligning them with the rates applicable to private‑sector guards on NYC public building service contracts.
- Audit existing paid time off policies for security guards and update them to meet or exceed the required paid vacation benefits by January 1, 2028.
- Review and update benefit offerings to ensure compliance with the supplemental benefit requirements by January 1, 2029, including any health, welfare, or fringe benefits that must match the public‑contract standard.
- Monitor the NYC website for the official Notice of Rights once published by the commissioner, and prepare to distribute it to all security guards.
- Provide the Notice of Rights to:
- New hires at the start of employment, and
- Existing security guards within 30 days of the law’s effective date (July 28, 2026).
- Ensure the notice is delivered in English and the guard’s primary language, and determine whether electronic delivery will be used.
- Update onboarding materials, employee handbooks, and vendor agreements (if guards are contracted) to reflect the new requirements.
- Coordinate with payroll, legal, and procurement teams to ensure wage changes, PTO updates, and supplemental benefits are implemented on schedule.
- Document compliance steps and establish a recurring review process to track future updates issued by the commissioner.