Hi John,
Companies like Amazon have made billions during the pandemic -- but their workers have been sounding the alarm about unsafe working conditions, including lack of bathroom breaks, COVID precautions, and retaliation for speaking out.
Amazon isn’t the only one. While New York City has some of the strongest worker protections in the country (thanks to some hard fought wins), bad actor employers still regularly violate worker rights with little accountability.
Today, I announced my plan to shine a spotlight on the most exploitative employers – read about my plan to name and shame companies with the worst records of violating workers’ rights in order to improve workplace conditions citywide.
As Comptroller, my top priority will be helping our city secure a just recovery for all New Yorkers. Rebuilding a more equitable NYC economy in the wake of the pandemic must include ensuring good jobs with living wage pay and workplace protections.
Modeled on the Public Advocate’s Worst Landlord List, a list of landlords with the worst records of tenants’ rights violations that has been released annually since 2010, the Comptroller’s “Exploitative Employer Wall of Shame” would highlight the records of the most egregious employers with the goal of improving conditions for all workers.
Research from around the country shows that highlighting bad actors can act as a deterrent to encourage employers to follow the law and raise workplace standards across industries. The Comptroller’s annual list of worst employers would be informed by data, complaints, and reporting on wage theft, workplace safety, unfair labor practices, discrimination, and other violations of NYC’s robust worker protections.
Read about my plan in the New York Daily News.
I’m eager to put the tools of the Comptroller’s office to work to hold employers accountable to treat their workers with fairness and dignity and create jobs that enable New Yorkers to thrive.
Brad
