New York’s labour laws are pretty comprehensive and therefore it is not unusual to start a new job and not sign a contract. Your basic rights are outlined in the law, so in the case of a dispute, the courts will look to the law to settle the matter. However, some companies do request you sign a contract. If this happens, take due care to read and understand everything in it: if there is then a dispute between you and your employer, the courts will look to your contract, rather than to the labour law, to settle the dispute. If you have any doubts about a clause in your labour contract, it is worth getting a legal specialist to read through it and tell you if it contains anything out of the ordinary.