234 5th Ave #501, New York, NY 100016
Employee Benefits Broker in Fordham
Strategic benefits guidance for Fordham employers navigating one of the most complex regulatory environments in the country.
Fordham carries a distinct energy in the Bronx - anchored by Fordham University, a dense mix of healthcare institutions, and the commercial corridors running along Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse. Employers here range from independent retailers and family-run restaurants to nonprofits and medical practices serving one of the Bronx's most active communities. Competing for workers in this market means offering more than a paycheck. Finding the right employee benefits broker to serve Fordham means working with someone who understands New York State's layered compliance demands alongside the workforce pressures specific to this borough. Combs & Company, operating from its office at 234 5th Ave, Suite 501, has helped businesses with 1 to 500 employees build and manage benefits programs since 2005. With a 95% annual client retention rate and a team of PPACA Certified Advisors, the firm brings deep advisory continuity to Fordham employers. Whether you operate a healthcare-adjacent practice near St. Barnabas Hospital, a nonprofit supporting Bronx families, or a growing business along Fordham Road, Combs & Company delivers benefits strategy built for New York's regulatory realities.
Fordham Benefits Compliance in 2026
Fordham employers work inside a compliance framework shaped by two distinct sets of rules: state mandates flowing from Albany and city-level requirements enforced through agencies like the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Neither layer is optional, and the consequences of falling behind range from civil penalties and failed audits to workforce turnover driven by benefits that no longer measure up. For businesses along the Grand Concourse or near the Fordham Metro-North and D train stations, where foot traffic and competition for workers are both high, staying current on these obligations is an ongoing operational necessity, not a task you revisit once a year.
Paid Family Leave adjustments
New York's Paid Family Leave program updated its benefit rates for 2026. The maximum weekly benefit now stands at $1,228.53, reflecting an increase of $51.21 over 2025. Employee contribution rates have been adjusted to 0.432% of gross wages per pay period, with a maximum annual contribution of $411.91. Fordham employers with workers spread across healthcare, retail, food service, and education-adjacent roles need to confirm that payroll systems have been updated to reflect these figures and that employees understand how PFL coordinates with New York's statutory disability insurance coverage.
Paid Prenatal Leave
New York became the first state in the country to mandate paid prenatal leave, with that requirement taking effect January 1, 2025. Every private-sector employer in the state, regardless of workforce size, must provide 20 hours of paid prenatal leave within any 52-week period. This leave stands apart from, and on top of, existing sick leave entitlements. For Fordham's many small and mid-sized businesses, the NYC-specific layer adds another level of obligation under amended ESSTA rules. That includes maintaining a written prenatal leave policy, reflecting prenatal leave balances on employee pay stubs, and displaying an updated Notice of Employee Rights in a visible location accessible to all employees.
Expanded Earned Safe and Sick Time
Amendments to the NYC Earned Safe and Sick Time Act became effective February 22, 2026. Fordham employers are now required to make at least 32 hours of unpaid safe and sick time available to employees from their first day of hire. The qualifying reasons for using that leave have been expanded significantly and now cover public disasters, school or childcare facility closures, workplace violence incidents, and the care of minor children or other care recipients. These amendments also folded the city's Temporary Schedule Change Act into ESSTA directly, consolidating both sets of protections under one framework.
Minimum wage and salary thresholds
As of January 1, 2026, the minimum wage across New York City - including Fordham - is $17.00 per hour. The minimum salary threshold for executive and administrative overtime exemptions has increased to $1,275.00 per week, which comes to $66,300 annually. For Fordham employers in retail, healthcare support roles, food service, and similar sectors, these thresholds directly shape how positions are classified and how benefits eligibility is structured for hourly versus salaried workers throughout the organization.
Secure Choice Savings Program
New York's state-mandated retirement savings program is now fully operational. Private employers with 10 or more employees who have been in business for at least two years and do not offer a qualified retirement plan must register or certify an exemption. Enrollment deadlines are staggered based on company size: employers with 30 or more employees faced a March 18, 2026 cutoff; those with 15 to 29 employees have a May 15, 2026 deadline; and those with 10 to 14 employees must act by July 15, 2026. Fordham has a significant concentration of small businesses, nonprofits, and family-operated enterprises that fall within these thresholds. Employees are auto-enrolled at a 3% contribution rate into a state-administered Roth IRA unless they actively choose to opt out.
Ban on consumer credit history in employment decisions
Starting April 18, 2026, New York State employers may not request or factor in consumer credit history when making hiring, compensation, or other employment decisions, with limited defined exceptions. This statewide rule builds on the city-level credit check restriction that has been in place since 2015 under NYC's Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act. Fordham employers with staff across a range of roles and pay grades need to understand where those narrow exceptions apply and ensure that hiring practices reflect both the city and state-level standards.
Tracking all of these requirements - and how they interact with one another - is a core part of what an employee benefits broker serving Fordham businesses must handle. A prenatal leave policy that lacks proper documentation, a missed Secure Choice enrollment deadline, or sick leave balances that never appear on pay stubs can each trigger enforcement action. For Fordham employers focused on running their organizations in one of the Bronx's most active commercial and institutional corridors, outsourcing that compliance oversight to a dedicated advisory partner is a practical decision with measurable upside.
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Benefits Services for Fordham Employers
Combs & Company works with Fordham employers knowing that no two businesses in this part of the Bronx are structured the same way. A medical practice near Montefiore's Fordham campus has different pressures than a nonprofit serving students near Fordham University or an independent retailer competing along Fordham Road. That diversity calls for a flexible advisory approach that starts with what each employer actually needs. Medical, dental, and vision benefits form the foundation of most packages, and putting those plans together in New York means working through a carrier market where costs consistently run above national benchmarks and where the hospital systems and provider networks employees rely on vary significantly by neighborhood. Disability coverage is layered on top of New York's statutory program to close the gaps that matter most for professional and higher-earning staff in Fordham's growing workforce. Group life insurance, voluntary benefits, and executive benefits are structured to support retention in a borough where workers have no shortage of options. Compliance consulting covering ACA reporting, ERISA documentation, and audit readiness is part of the relationship from the beginning - not a service that only activates when something goes wrong. For Fordham employers managing prenatal leave documentation, Secure Choice deadlines, and updated ESSTA requirements simultaneously, that built-in support is what prevents problems before they escalate.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage anchor employee benefits packages for most Fordham employers, and assembling those packages in New York requires working through a carrier market where premiums consistently exceed national norms. Combs & Company negotiates across multiple carriers to find plans that balance cost with the coverage depth employees expect, taking into account the specific hospital systems and provider networks that matter most to workers in the Bronx, including those tied to Montefiore, Lincoln Medical Center, and other key institutions in the area.
New York's statutory disability program provides a baseline level of income protection, but for many Fordham workers in professional services, healthcare administration, or education-adjacent roles, that baseline is not enough. Short-term and long-term disability coverage fills those gaps in a meaningful way. Group life insurance, voluntary benefits, and executive benefits complete packages designed to hold onto employees in a part of the Bronx where competing employers are close and the cost of turnover is real.
Compliance consulting covering ACA reporting, ERISA plan documentation, and audit readiness is built into every client engagement at Combs & Company - not offered as a separate billable service. For Fordham employers navigating overlapping obligations around prenatal leave policies, Secure Choice enrollment, and the latest ESSTA amendments, having that expertise integrated into the advisory relationship rather than invoiced separately is an advantage that becomes most apparent when deadlines converge or when an audit request arrives.
What Sets Combs & Company Apart in the Fordham Market
What distinguishes Combs & Company is how the firm is actually built. Every advisor on the team brings professional experience from at least two industries outside of insurance before joining, which shapes how they identify risk exposures that more narrowly focused brokers tend to overlook. In Fordham, where a single employer may operate across healthcare, retail, and social services simultaneously, that cross-sector perspective matters. The firm's 95% annual client retention rate spans New York City's most active industries and reflects advisory work that performs consistently over time, not just at onboarding. Combs & Company's PPACA Certified Advisors bring expertise in ACA, ERISA, and the state and city-level mandates that make New York one of the most complex employee benefits environments in the country. The firm works with companies ranging from 1 to 500 employees - exactly the range where benefits strategy has the greatest impact on hiring and retention but where in-house expertise is rarely available. Susan L. Combs founded the firm in 2005, and growth since then has come largely through referrals and long-term client relationships, which reflects the way the advisory model is designed from day one.
A 95% annual client retention rate across a New York City-concentrated client base reflects a practice built on consistent, high-quality advisory work - not initial enthusiasm that softens over time. Fordham clients in healthcare services, retail, nonprofit, food service, and professional sectors each bring different compliance exposures and workforce dynamics. The Combs team has navigated those variations across enough engagements that the nuances of New York's regulatory environment are not new territory. They are a baseline that informs every recommendation.
Combs & Company's PPACA Certified Advisors bring focused expertise in ACA, ERISA, and the full scope of state and city-level requirements that govern employee benefits for New York employers - including those with workers across Fordham's diverse industries and institutions. The firm's client range of 1 to 500 employees covers precisely the businesses where benefits decisions carry the greatest weight for hiring outcomes and financial performance, and where a dedicated in-house HR or benefits function is rarely a realistic option.
Susan L. Combs founded the firm in 2005 with a model built on lasting advisory relationships rather than transactional volume. Fordham clients who work with Combs & Company are not transferred to a service queue after enrollment. Growth at the firm comes through referrals and multi-year engagements, which is a direct reflection of how the firm structures its relationships from the very first conversation.
Who This Serves in Fordham
The companies that benefit most from working with an employee benefits broker in Fordham
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 Fordham-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
If your Fordham business is building an employee benefits program for the first time, questioning whether your current plan still makes sense heading into renewal, or working through a compliance question before a deadline passes, Combs & Company offers a no-obligation discovery call to assess where things stand. The advisory team will review your existing benefits structure, identify any compliance gaps specific to New York, and walk you through what a tailored engagement would look like. Schedule a discovery call to get started.
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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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Empower your workforce with tailored benefits that attract talent, enhance satisfaction, and improve retention — all while keeping your business compliant, competitive, and financially protected.
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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.
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Our team includes PPACA Certified Advisors and licensed professionals with expertise in ACA, ERISA, and complex coverage solutions, providing trusted guidance.
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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.
