DCA’s Office of Labor Resources Policy & Standards Protecting Sample Contracts Free Tax Preparation (OLPS) is a dedicated DCA created model contracts that comply with the You may qualify for NYC Free Tax Prep services, law that hiring parties and freelance workers can which include online filing and in-person filing with voice in City government review. Please visit nyc.gov/dca. an IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer. Call 311 or visit nyc.gov/taxprep for more information. NYC’s for workers. Charged Low-Cost Health Insurance The NYC Human Resources Administration can Education and Training Programs with helping vulnerable help you find health insurance and care that meets The City offers free help for jobseekers. Visit your needs and budget. Call 311, text CoveredNYC nyc.gov/workforce1 or call 311 and ask to find a workers, OLPS embraces (or SeguroNYC) to 877877, visit nyc.gov/health to Workforce1 Career Center. Freelance find a Health Department Certified Application our mandate to focus Counselor for free in-person help, or visit the NY Immigration Assistance State of Health website at nystateofhealth.ny.gov. on issues affecting ActionNYC provides safe, free immigration legal screenings in your community, in your own Public Benefits Workers immigrants, people of language. Visit nyc.gov/actionnyc or call 311 and ACCESS NYC is a free service that helps you find say “ActionNYC.” color, and women in out if you may qualify for more than 30 City, state, and federal benefit programs. You can apply online English Classes An Overview of the workplace. for certain programs through ACCESS NYC. Visit nyc.gov/accessnyc or contact 311 for ACCESS The NYC Department of Youth and Community Rights and Resources NYC information. Development’s English Language Program is OLPS: designed to help the newest New Yorkers learn English. Visit nyc.gov/dycd for more information. Enforces key municipal workplace laws. Free Financial Counseling NYC Financial Empowerment Centers offer free Conducts original research, outreach, one-on-one professional financial counseling. The service is confidential, and our professional and education. counselors speak multiple languages. Call 311 to schedule an appointment or visit nyc.gov/dca. Develops policies that are responsive to New York City’s evolving economy and workforce.
The NYC Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. Through the work of our Office of Labor Policy & Standards, DCA empowers working families by providing the tools and resources they need to achieve financial health and work-life balance.
06/2017 If you are a freelance Who is Covered by Your Rights worker in NYC, you the Law? You have rights regardless of your Freedom from immigration status. Discrimination have legal rights and a Under the Freelance Isn’t Free Act, which took effect May 15, 2017, a freelance worker is any individual dedicated City resource hired or retained as an independent contractor by a The NYC Human Rights Law hiring party to provide services for compensation. Written Contract protects New Yorkers against for work-related questions Freelancers work in many different industries. Some many kinds of discrimination. If of the most common industries for freelance workers you experience discrimination, and complaints: the include: call the NYC Commission on All contracts worth $800 or more Human Rights Infoline at 311. film and video Office of Labor Policy must be in writing. This includes graphic and web design all agreements between you and the hiring party & Standards within home contracting and repair that total $800 in any 120-day period. The written media contract must spell out the work you will perform; the pay for the work; and the date you get paid. the Department of photography Right to File You and the hiring party must keep a copy of the a Complaint Consumer Affairs (DCA). translation written contract. DCA created this overview to inform you Exceptions: You can file a complaint with DCA’s Office of Labor Policy & about important rights and resources. Certain sales representatives, attorneys, and licensed medical professionals are excluded Standards. DCA will notify the from the definition of freelance worker. Timely Payment hiring party who must respond to For more information, call 311 and ask for the complaint within 20 days. DCA The law would generally not apply to work “Freelance Workers” or visit nyc.gov/dca will also provide information to help you find a lawyer, done under a collective bargaining agreement understand the court process, and more. Download that defines workers as employees. The hiring party must pay you the complaint form at nyc.gov/dca or call 311. If you for all completed work. You have questions, email [email protected]. Whether or not you are an “independent contractor” must receive payment on or depends on a variety of factors and the nature of before the date that is in the your work arrangement. Please visit nyc.gov/dca contract. If the contract does for resources to help you understand if you have the not include a payment date, the hiring party must pay you within 30 days after you complete the work. correct work classification. You can also contact DCA Right to Sue at [email protected] if you have questions about your classification as a freelance worker, independent contractor, or employee. You can sue the hiring party A hiring party is anyone, other than a government Freedom from in court to seek damages. If entity, who hires a freelance worker. Retaliation you are not timely paid for your work, you have a right to collect double the amount It is illegal for a hiring party to you weren’t paid, damages penalize, threaten, or blacklist for retaliation, and payment you because you exercised of attorneys’ fees and costs. your rights.