The New York Employment Test for Businesses Certified By Empire State Development (ESD) On or After April 1, 2005, and Before April 1, 2009, was designed to ensure that businesses certified by ESD are compliant with New York State labor laws. The test consists of two components: the New York State Labor Law Compliance Exam and the New York State Employment Law Compliance Exam. The New York State Labor Law Compliance Exam is a multiple-choice, online test that is designed to assess a business’s knowledge of New York State labor laws. The test includes questions on topics such as minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and other labor law related topics. The New York State Employment Law Compliance Exam is a written exam that assesses a business’s understanding of New York State employment and labor laws. This exam requires businesses to demonstrate their understanding of the various labor laws by providing written answers and/or diagrams to questions. Both of these exams are required for businesses to be certified by ESD and must be passed before April 1, 2009.