NEW YORK STATE — Freelancers across New York state now have strong legal protections against nonpayment and retaliation, since the Freelance Isn’t Free Law went into effect on August 28.

Enforced by the NYS Attorney General’s Office, the law addresses the growing issue of nonpayment among freelancers. The rapid growth of the freelance workforce has brought flexibility and autonomy but also persistent nonpayment issues. Freelancers Union, a nonprofit based in Brooklyn, said studies show 71 percent of freelancers have struggled to collect payment. The Freelance Isn’t Free Law provides legal tools to ensure prompt and full payment:

• Clients must provide a written contract for any freelance work valued at $800 or more within a 120-day period. The contract must outline the scope of work, payment rate, method and due date. Failure to do so can result in a $250 penalty.
• Clients must pay freelancers by the contract’s due date or within 30 days of work completion if no date is specified. Clients cannot offer faster payment in exchange for accepting less than the agreed amount.
• Freelancers who assert their rights are protected from retaliation, whether from threats, intimidation, denial of work opportunities or fair treatment. 
• Freelancers who face nonpayment or retaliation have the right to seek legal recourse. The law provides for the recovery of double damages for unpaid work, as well as attorneys’ fees, making it financially viable for freelancers to pursue justice.