On November 6, 2024, New Yorkers across the state voted “yes” on the Equal Rights Amendment, commonly known as Proposition 1. The newly passed Equal Rights Amendment expands New Yorkers’ constitutional civil rights and codifies protections against discrimination in the state constitution.
Articles Discussing The New York Human Rights Law.
#MeToo: New York State Court Allows Actor’s Claims Against Entertainment Companies to Proceed Based on Alleged Conduct in 1995 by Weinstein
A New York state judge has denied motions to dismiss actor Julia Ormond’s claims against a film company, its parent company, and a talent agency based on conduct by film producer Harvey Weinstein, who Ormond alleges assaulted her in December 1995 in her Manhattan apartment. In her lawsuit, Ormond alleges
New York State Department of Labor Issues Updated Materials on Workplace Lactation Rights
The New York State Department of Labor has issued revised materials, including an updated mandatory model policy, ahead of the June 19, 2024, effective date for the transition of workplace lactation breaks from unpaid to paid in New York.
Learn more here.
New York Now Requires Paid Lactation Breaks
Effective June 19, 2024, New York employers will be required to provide up to 30 minutes of paid lactation breaks to employees each time an employee has a reasonable need to express breast milk at work. This change to New York Labor Law Section 206-c is set forth in Bill
Avoiding Unlawful Housing Discrimination in New York State: Three-Part Podcast Series
Landlords, property managers, realtors and others in residential real estate strive to avoid inadvertently discriminating against individuals renting or leasing residential properties. Despite best intentions, discrimination can occur against protected classes covered under the New York State Human Rights Law. In this three-part series of our We get work™ podcast, we discuss housing discrimination under the New York State Human Rights Law with Chelsea John, Director of Fair Housing Investigations at NYS Division of Human Rights.
New York Enacts Greater Restrictions on Release Agreements Involving Claims of Discrimination, Harassment, or Retaliation
On November 17, 2023, the New York governor signed into law S4516, which amends Section 5-336 of the New York General Obligations Law to restrict certain terms from being included in release agreements involving claims of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The amendments went into effect immediately and apply to
Second Circuit Holds EPA “Factor Other Than Sex” Affirmative Defense Need Not Be Job-Related
Second Circuit holds that “factor other than sex” affirmative defense to Equal Pay Act claim does not need to be job-related. New York Labor Law § 194(1)’s “bona fide factor other than status within one or more protected class or classes” defense does require
NYSHRL’s Source of Income Discrimination Statute Unconstitutional
In a recent legal development, a New York State Supreme Court ruled that the source-of-income anti-discrimination statute within the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) is unconstitutional, citing a violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
New York State Department of Labor Publishes Model Lactation Accommodation Policy
On June 7, 2023, a law providing expanded protections for breastfeeding employees in New York took effect. The law applies to all public and private employers in the state, regardless of size.
New York City Enacts Legislation Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Height, Weight
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has signed legislation amending the New York City Human Rights Law to prohibit discrimination based on a person’s height or weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The new law will become effective on November 22, 2023.
NYC Enacts Height and Weight Anti-Discrimination Ordinance
On May 26, 2023, New York City enacted an ordinance amending the New York City Human Rights Law to ban employment discrimination on the basis of a person’s height and weight.1 This new ordinance further expands the comprehensive list of characteristics already protected by the New York City Human Rights
New York State Issues Revised Model Sexual Harassment Policy and Training Materials
New York has released an updated model sexual harassment prevention policy and updated model training materials.
New York State Publishes Proposed Updated Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy
In accordance with its quadrennial obligation to evaluate the impact of New York State’s Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy in the workplace, on January 12, 2023, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL), in consultation with the New York State Division of Human Rights, published a proposed updated model
New York State Launches Hotline for Reporting Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
On July 19, 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a statewide confidential hotline for complaints of workplace sexual harassment. The hotline was provided under Senate Bill No. S812B, which Governor Hochul signed into law on March 16, 2022, as part of a legislative package enacted to
New York State Launches New Hotline for Workplace Sexual Harassment Complaints
Earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law S.812B/A.2035B, which amended the New York State Human Rights Law, N.Y. Exec. Law § 296, to require the establishment of a state-wide, toll-free, confidential hotline for complaints of workplace sexual harassment. On July 19, 2022, Governor Hochul announced the launch