NY Poised to Pass Nation's First Nanny Protection Law

New York is about to become the first state to recognize nannies and domestic workers as workers with rights. A bill passed by the state Senate this week guarantees full-time domestic workers overtime pay and one day off a week, as well as sick days and vacation days. It will take effect at the start of next year if it is reconciled with a less comprehensive bill passed by the state assembly and signed by the governor, the New York Times reports.

The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights passed the state Senate despite the objections of Republicans, one of whom said he found it "most offensive" that illegal immigrants would be covered by the legislation. "I don't need to see your green card status before I know if I'm going to treat you like a human being," countered Sen. Eric Adams, a Democrat whose mother was a domestic worker. "This is a landmark piece of legislation." (More domestic workers stories.)