Service Area
Nassau County Employment Lawyer
Representing employees who live or work in Nassau County in wage and hour claims, discrimination, retaliation, and severance matters.
Nassau County sits in an unusual legal position. Its workers are covered by some of the strongest employment protections in the country, yet many assume those protections stop at the city line. They do not. The New York Labor Law, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the federal statutes I work with every day apply with full force in Nassau County, and Long Island shares the same higher downstate minimum wage rate that applies in New York City.
I represent employees across Nassau County, from Great Neck to Hicksville to Massapequa, in the same matters I handle for New York City workers: unpaid wages and overtime, misclassification, workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, medical leave violations, and severance and noncompete review.
Many of my Nassau County clients fall into one of two groups. Some work for Long Island employers, in healthcare, retail, construction, hospitality, or the office corridors along the county's main commercial roads. Others live in Nassau County but commute into Manhattan or the outer boroughs. That second group often has more options than they realize, because employees who work in New York City are generally protected by the New York City Human Rights Law even if they live outside the city.
Employment Matters I Handle for Nassau County Workers
The substance of these claims is the same whether the workplace is in Mineola or Midtown. Each links to a dedicated page with more detail.
Live in Nassau, Work in the City? Your Protections May Be Broader
Tens of thousands of Nassau County residents ride the LIRR into Manhattan every weekday. If you are one of them, your employment claims are typically governed by the law of the place where you work, not where you live. That matters, because the New York City Human Rights Law is among the most employee-protective statutes in the country, often more forgiving than its state and federal counterparts.
The reverse situation also comes up. If you work for a Nassau County employer, your discrimination claims generally proceed under the New York State Human Rights Law, which since 2019 has moved substantially closer to the city law's employee-friendly standards. Wage and hour claims under the New York Labor Law and the FLSA apply the same way in either location.
Sorting out which law applies, and where a case should be filed, is part of the initial evaluation I do in every matter.
Where Nassau County Employment Cases Are Heard
Depending on the claims, a Nassau County employment case may be filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Nassau County, in Mineola, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, which covers Nassau County from its courthouses in Central Islip and Brooklyn, or with an administrative agency such as the New York State Division of Human Rights or the EEOC.
Venue and forum selection are strategic decisions. The right answer depends on the claims, the employer, and your goals, and it is one of the first things I analyze when evaluating a case.
Communities
Nassau County Communities I Serve
I represent employees throughout Nassau County. For some communities I maintain dedicated pages:
I also work with employees in Garden City, Great Neck, Hempstead, Hicksville, Levittown, Massapequa, Mineola, Oyster Bay, Plainview, Port Washington, Westbury, and the rest of Nassau County. Wherever you are in the county, consultations are available by phone or video, or in person at my office in Lower Manhattan.
Nassau County Employment Law Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle employment cases in Nassau County?
Yes. I represent employees who live or work in Nassau County in wage and hour claims, discrimination, retaliation, medical leave, severance, and restrictive covenant matters. Nassau County and the five boroughs of New York City are the two areas my practice serves.
Do you take cases in Suffolk County?
No. My practice is limited to New York City and Nassau County. If your workplace and the events at issue are in Suffolk County, I am not the right fit, and you should look for counsel who practices there.
I live in Nassau County but work in Manhattan. Which laws protect me?
Employment protections generally follow your workplace rather than your home. If you work in New York City, you are typically covered by the New York City Human Rights Law in addition to state and federal law, even though you live in Nassau County. Wage and hour protections under the New York Labor Law apply either way.
Is the minimum wage in Nassau County the same as in New York City?
Yes. Long Island, including Nassau County, is in the same downstate minimum wage tier as New York City and Westchester County, which is higher than the rate for the rest of New York State. If a Nassau employer is paying the upstate rate, or less, that is a violation.
Do I need to travel to Manhattan to work with you?
No. Consultations and most communication can be handled by phone or video. If you commute into the city, my office at 30 Wall Street is a short walk from several subway lines, and meetings can be scheduled around your workday.