SYRACUSE — New York amended its whistleblower law earlier this year, but many businesses remain unaware of the changes and how it may impact their company, one area labor attorney says.

Among the biggest changes in the law, which went into effect Jan. 26, is the broadening of who can blow the whistle on an employer, says Michael Sciotti, a partner with Barclay Damon LLP in Syracuse. His practice includes defending employers, owners, and members of management in all types of discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, and retaliation claims brought under state and federal labor laws, according to his bio on the Barclay Damon website.

While the state whistleblower law once only covered current employees, the changes now include former employees and independent contractors among those protected.

“Employers need to be on the lookout for that,” Sciotti says. Employers impacted by the whistleblower law include any entity that has one or more employees. “So, this law pretty much applies to anyone who has an employee,” he adds.

Unfortunately, not enough businesses are aware of the changes to the law, and he’s doing his best to raise awareness through webinars, speaking engagements, and sharing information on his LinkedIn profile.

New York is a significantly pro-employee state, he says, and the law not only provides protection to employees that report employer wrongdoing, but also offers remedies including potential punitive damages.

The law does require that employees make a...

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