234 5th Ave #501, New York, NY 100016
Employee Benefits Broker in Brooklyn
Strategic benefits guidance for Brooklyn employers navigating one of the most complex regulatory environments in the country.
Brooklyn employers - from the manufacturing corridors of Sunset Park to the creative agencies clustered in Dumbo - face a benefits landscape shaped by some of the most demanding regulatory conditions in the country. Choosing the right employee benefits broker means finding an advisor that knows how New York's state-level mandates, city enforcement agencies, and fiercely competitive talent market interact in real time. Combs & Company advises companies with 1 to 500 employees on benefits strategies built for this environment, backed by a team of PPACA Certified Advisors and a 95% annual client retention rate that reflects genuine advisory relationships. Brooklyn's workforce is diverse, ambitious, and has real options - and the benefits packages employers offer need to reflect that reality.
Brooklyn Benefits Compliance in 2026
Brooklyn businesses operate under a dual compliance structure that most employers outside of New York State never encounter. Regulations flow from Albany through the state legislature and from City Hall through agencies like the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Missing a requirement at either level carries consequences: civil penalties, enforcement actions, and the kind of employee dissatisfaction that accelerates turnover in a borough where talent moves fast.
Paid Family Leave adjustments
New York's Paid Family Leave program has updated its benefit rates for 2026. The maximum weekly benefit now sits at $1,228.53, a $51.21 increase over 2025 figures. Employee contributions are set at 0.432% of gross wages per pay period, with a maximum annual contribution capped at $411.91. Brooklyn employers need to confirm their payroll systems reflect these updated numbers and that staff are clearly informed about how PFL coordinates with New York's statutory disability insurance program.
Paid Prenatal Leave
New York made history as the first state to require paid prenatal leave, with the law taking effect January 1, 2025. Every private-sector employer in Brooklyn - regardless of headcount - must provide 20 hours of paid prenatal leave within any 52-week period. This leave is separate from and in addition to existing sick leave. City-specific requirements under amended ESSTA rules layer on additional obligations: maintaining a written prenatal leave policy, reporting leave balances on pay stubs, and posting the updated Notice of Employee Rights.
Expanded Earned Safe and Sick Time
Amendments to the NYC Earned Safe and Sick Time Act took effect February 22, 2026, introducing changes that Brooklyn employers should already be implementing. Workers must now receive at least 32 hours of immediately available unpaid safe and sick time starting from their first day. The qualifying reasons for using that leave have expanded to cover public disasters, school and childcare closures, workplace violence incidents, and care for minor children or designated care recipients. Notably, the amendment also absorbed and eliminated the city's Temporary Schedule Change Act, consolidating those protections under ESSTA.
Minimum wage and salary thresholds
As of January 1, 2026, the minimum wage in New York City rose to $17.00 per hour. For overtime exemptions in the executive and administrative categories, the minimum salary threshold increased to $1,275.00 per week - or $66,300 annualized. For Brooklyn employers across industries like food service, retail, and professional services, these thresholds affect not just payroll but how roles are classified and how benefits eligibility is structured across the workforce.
Secure Choice Savings Program
New York's state-mandated retirement savings program is now operational, and Brooklyn employers without a qualified retirement plan need to pay close attention to enrollment deadlines. Businesses with 30 or more employees faced a March 18, 2026 deadline. Those with 15 to 29 employees must comply by May 15, 2026, and employers with 10 to 14 employees have until July 15, 2026. Workers are automatically enrolled at a 3% contribution rate into a state-administered Roth IRA, with the option to opt out. Employers that already offer a qualifying plan need to certify their exemption.
Ban on consumer credit history in employment decisions
Starting April 18, 2026, New York State employers are prohibited from using consumer credit history in hiring decisions, compensation determinations, or other employment actions, with a narrow set of exceptions. This statewide prohibition builds on a protection Brooklyn and the rest of New York City have had in place since 2015 under the Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act. For Brooklyn employers, this means reviewing any remaining hiring practices that relied on credit checks under older frameworks.
An employee benefits broker serving Brooklyn clients needs to track every one of these requirements - and understand how they interact with each other. A prenatal leave policy that doesn't account for ESSTA updates, or a payroll system that hasn't reflected 2026 PFL rates, can generate compliance exposure quickly. In a borough with Brooklyn's regulatory scrutiny and workforce expectations, a single missed deadline can cost far more than the fix would have.
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Benefits Services for Brooklyn Employers
Brooklyn's business community spans an extraordinary range: tech startups in the Navy Yard, hospitality groups in Williamsburg, nonprofit organizations in Crown Heights, and established professional services firms throughout downtown Brooklyn. Combs & Company builds employee benefits programs flexible enough to serve that full spectrum. Medical, dental, and vision coverage anchor most packages, with carrier selection driven by the network depth Brooklyn employees expect - including access to major hospital systems in and around the borough. Premiums in the New York market run considerably higher than national benchmarks, and the firm negotiates across multiple carriers to find the right balance of cost and coverage. Short-term and long-term disability benefits supplement New York's statutory disability program, which often doesn't go far enough for higher-earning employees in Brooklyn's finance, legal, and tech sectors. Group life insurance, voluntary benefits, and executive benefits complete packages that need to hold up in a job market where competitive offers are never far away. Compliance consulting on ACA reporting, ERISA documentation, and audit preparation is built into the advisory relationship - not treated as a separate billable service. For Brooklyn employers managing prenatal leave updates, Secure Choice registration, and ESSTA amendments at the same time, that integration is not a luxury.
Brooklyn's business community spans an extraordinary range: tech startups in the Navy Yard, hospitality groups in Williamsburg, nonprofit organizations in Crown Heights, and established professional services firms throughout downtown Brooklyn. Medical, dental, and vision coverage anchor most packages, with carrier selection driven by the network depth Brooklyn employees expect - including access to major hospital systems in and around the borough. Premiums in the New York market run considerably higher than national benchmarks, and Combs & Company negotiates across multiple carriers to find the right balance of cost and coverage for each employer's workforce.
Short-term and long-term disability benefits supplement New York's statutory disability program, which often doesn't go far enough for higher-earning employees in Brooklyn's finance, legal, and tech sectors. Group life insurance, voluntary benefits, and executive benefits complete packages that need to hold up in a job market where competitive offers are never far away. For Brooklyn employers trying to retain the talent they've invested in, the depth of the benefits package matters as much as base compensation.
Compliance consulting on ACA reporting, ERISA documentation, and audit preparation is built into Combs & Company's advisory relationship with Brooklyn clients - not offered as a separate engagement. For businesses managing prenatal leave policy updates, Secure Choice registration deadlines, and ESSTA amendments simultaneously, having compliance support embedded in the day-to-day relationship rather than bolted on after something goes wrong is what makes the difference.
What Sets Combs & Company Apart in the Brooklyn Market
What separates Combs & Company from other firms serving Brooklyn employers isn't branding - it's how the team is built. Every member of the Combs Crew has worked in at least two industries outside of insurance before joining the firm. In a borough where businesses frequently operate across sectors - a hospitality group that also does events, a media company with a retail component - that cross-industry experience helps the team surface risk exposures that single-track brokers tend to miss. The firm holds a 95% annual client retention rate across a client base spanning professional services, hospitality, media, tech, nonprofits, and food and beverage - many of them concentrated in Brooklyn and the broader New York City metro. That retention rate reflects the kind of advisory continuity that makes compliance management and carrier negotiations more effective over time. PPACA Certified Advisors on the team bring focused expertise in ACA, ERISA, and the specific state and local mandates that make New York one of the most regulated environments for employee benefits anywhere in the country. Combs & Company serves businesses with 1 to 500 employees - the range where benefits decisions directly shape hiring and retention outcomes but where in-house expertise is rarely available. Founded in 2005 by Susan L. Combs, the firm has grown through referrals and long-term client relationships, not transactional renewals or cold outreach.
The firm's 95% annual client retention rate spans industries with strong representation across Brooklyn and the wider New York City metro - professional services, hospitality, media, technology, nonprofit organizations, and food and beverage. Working consistently across these sectors means the team understands the carrier dynamics, compliance nuances, and workforce expectations specific to the industries driving Brooklyn's economy. That institutional knowledge builds over time and benefits every client in the portfolio.
Combs & Company's PPACA Certified Advisors carry deep expertise in ACA, ERISA, and the layered state and city-level requirements that define New York's benefits compliance environment. The firm works with companies ranging from 1 to 500 employees - the segment where getting benefits right has the greatest direct impact on talent acquisition and retention, and where most businesses don't have a dedicated HR or benefits team to manage the complexity on their own. Brooklyn employers in that range are exactly the clients the firm is built to serve.
Founded in 2005 by Susan L. Combs, Combs & Company has built its practice around long-term advisory relationships rather than one-and-done transactions. Growth comes from referrals and clients who stay year after year - not from aggressive outreach campaigns. That model shapes how the team engages with every Brooklyn employer it works with: as a partner focused on long-term outcomes, not a vendor chasing the next renewal.
Who This Serves
The companies that benefit most from working with an employee benefits broker in NYC are typically growing firms in the
10–500 employee range — large enough to face real compliance obligations under programs like Secure Choice and ACA employer mandates, but without the internal HR infrastructure to manage those obligations alone. This includes founders and COOs at NYC-based tech and media companies scaling past their first wave of hires, CFOs at professional services firms managing benefits costs against the city's wage pressures, and HR directors at nonprofits and cultural organizations competing for talent without Fortune 500 budgets.
Start a Conversation with Combs & Company
Brooklyn employers working through a first-time benefits build, an upcoming renewal that doesn't feel right, or a compliance question with a hard deadline should consider starting with a no-obligation discovery call with Combs & Company. The advisory team will review your current benefits structure, identify compliance gaps relevant to New York State and New York City requirements, and outline what a tailored engagement would look like for your business. Reach out to schedule a discovery call and get a clear picture of where you stand.
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Employee Benefits
Comprehensive Employee Benefits for Your Team
Benefit solutions can be as diverse as your workforce. Combs & Company takes a holistic approach to build solutions that meet employee needs, your company's budget, all while meeting federal and state requirements. Offering innovative solutions from trusted providers can help your business attract and retain top talent. From one employee to 1,000, our team supports you to ensure benefits don't become a burden and fall short of expectations.
Medical Benefits
Comprehensive medical coverage from top-rated carriers, with plan designs that account for NYC's provider networks and premium environment.
Dental Benefits
Preventive, restorative, and orthodontic coverage options that meet employee expectations in a competitive hiring market.
Vision Benefits
Vision plans that include routine exams, eyewear allowances, and corrective care for focused productivity.
Short-Term Disability insurance
Income protection that supplements New York's statutory disability program during temporary illness or injury.
Long-Term Disability insurance
Extended income protection for employees facing prolonged health challenges beyond statutory coverage.
Group Life Insurance
Financial protection for employees and their families, structured as a core component of the benefits package.
Group Long-Term Care Insurance
Coverage for extended medical or personal assistance expenses, addressing a growing concern for NYC's aging workforce.
Voluntary Benefits
Accident, critical illness, and supplemental coverage that gives employees flexibility to customize their protection.
Executive Benefits
Customized benefit plans designed to attract, retain, and protect leadership talent in NYC's competitive executive market.
International Travel Insurance
Coverage for employees on global assignments or business travel, addressing medical emergencies and unforeseen risks abroad.
Employee benefits aren’t just perks — they’re a promise. A promise to value, protect, and invest in the people who drive your company’s success every day.
Combs & Company
Empowering Businesses Through Smarter Employee Benefits
Your employees are the foundation of your company’s success. Combs & Company believes investing in their well-being leads to higher retention, better productivity, and stronger company culture. Our customized employee benefits solutions are designed to fit your organization’s goals, budget, and workforce. From startup to mature entity, we’ll help you create a benefits package that attracts and retains top talent — while protecting your bottom line.
Your Questions, Answered
Frequently Asked Questions
How do NYC's prenatal leave and ESSTA requirements affect my company's benefits administration?
If you employ anyone in New York City, your benefits administration now includes multiple leave entitlements that must be tracked separately: 20 hours of paid prenatal leave under state law, 40 or 56 hours of paid safe and sick time under ESSTA (depending on employer size), and as of February 2026, an additional 32 hours of unpaid safe and sick time available immediately upon hire. Each entitlement has distinct policy, notice, and recordkeeping requirements — and NYC's rules layer additional obligations on top of the state mandates. An employee benefits broker in NYC should be helping you maintain compliant written policies, update notices, and ensure your payroll system tracks each leave bank independently.
Does my NYC business need to register for the Secure Choice Savings Program?
If your company has been operating for at least two years, employs 10 or more people in New York, and does not currently offer a qualified retirement plan such as a 401(k) or SIMPLE IRA, you are required to register with the New York Secure Choice Savings Program or certify your exemption. Deadlines in 2026 are staggered by employer size, with the final group — employers with 10–14 employees — facing a July 15, 2026 deadline. Your employee benefits broker in NYC can help you evaluate whether registering for the state program or adopting a private retirement plan is the better strategic move for your company's benefits package and talent competitiveness.
What makes employee benefits more complex for NYC employers than employers in other markets?
New York City employers operate under a dual regulatory framework — state mandates from Albany and city-specific rules enforced locally — that creates compliance obligations most other U.S. markets simply don't have. The city's Earned Safe and Sick Time Act, prenatal leave policy and posting requirements, and the Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act all impose requirements beyond what state law mandates. Combined with New York's high premium environment, a minimum wage of $17.00 per hour affecting benefits eligibility classifications, and the competitive pressure of recruiting in a market with over 200,000 tech sector jobs alone, NYC employers need an employee benefits broker with specific experience in this market — not a national firm applying a generic playbook.
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234 5th Ave #501, New York, NY 10001
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Employee Benefits
Empower your workforce with tailored benefits that attract talent, enhance satisfaction, and improve retention — all while keeping your business compliant, competitive, and financially protected.
Commercial Insurance
Safeguard your business with customized commercial risk solutions that protect your assets, employees, and reputation against unforeseen events and evolving industry challenges.
Personal Insurance
Protect what matters most with personal insurance plans designed for your lifestyle — covering your home, health, car, and future with confidence and peace of mind.
Specialty Insurance
We specialize in unique and hard-to-place insurance needs, offering creative solutions for businesses and individuals that don’t fit standard coverage categories.
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Our experts offer strategic guidance, risk analysis, and compliance support to help you make informed insurance decisions aligned with your goals.
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Why Choose Combs & Company?
Combs & Company blends decades of experience, with continued industry innovations, and a personal touch to simplify the insurance process. Our expert teams tailor coverages to meet your business needs, ensuring you’re confident in any solution.
Certified Industry Experts
Our team includes PPACA Certified Advisors and licensed professionals with expertise in ACA, ERISA, and complex coverage solutions, providing trusted guidance.
Comprehensive Coverage Options
From personal and business insurance to specialty lines and consulting, we offer full-service solutions that grow with you and evolve to meet your changing needs.
Long-Term Relationships
At Combs & Company, clients aren’t just clients—they’re partners. We’re committed to building trust, loyalty, and long-term relationships that keep you secure for years to come.
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Our Client Reviews
If you're a food entrepreneur or in the restaurant biz, I highly recommend working with Susan and her team. Offers great customer service and she really knows her stuff! I had Susan come lecture at my food law class at New York University a few years ago and the students loved her! I refer clients to her without hesitation
Cari B.
