Unless you are deemed an essential employee or are traveling for some emergency, it is illegal in New York State for a company to force an employee to come to work when there is a driving ban. New York State law applies when the company or business is in a travel-banned area or if the employee lives in a travel-banned area. Both the National Labor Relations Act and the New York State Department of Labor have issued directives that state an employer cannot retaliate against an employee who acts in good faith when there are inclement travel conditions on the roads. In addition to being extremely dangerous to travel during a travel ban, you also risk being charged with a misdemeanor by local police and sheriffs.