Effective November 26, 2023, a significant amendment to New York City’s Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) prohibits discrimination based on height and weight. This development aligns the city with a growing trend of jurisdictions,...more
Mayor Eric Adams finds on his desk this week a New York City Council bill that would provide New York City based employees, visitors, and residents protection from discrimination based on their height or weight. The proposed...more
New Yorkers who employ of domestic workers should note two recent amendments to the New York State Human Rights Law (“NYSHRL”) that went into effect on December 31, 2021, which together extend full protection of the NYSHRL to...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The New York State Labor Law has been amended to prohibit employment discrimination “based on an employee’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making.” The law not only prohibits discrimination...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Once effective, the anti-discrimination and retaliation provisions of the NYC Human Rights Law will apply to freelancers and independent contractors. In addition, independent contractors and employed family...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The New York City Commission on Human Rights released guidance clarifying the New York City Human Rights Law’s restriction on discriminating against applicants and workers on the basis of actual or...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The New York City Council voted to expand the anti-discrimination and retaliation provisions of the Human Rights Law to freelancers and independent contractors. The bill is awaiting the Mayor’s signature. ...more
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed legislation amending state law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on hair texture or protective hairstyles as race-based discrimination. The new law took effect...more
Adding to an already busy summer of New York state employment law developments, employers and human resources professionals should take note of an amendment to the state’s Human Rights Law that adds protections for employees...more
Building in part on amendments passed last year, the New York State Legislature has passed legislation significantly broadening protections for employees. Governor Cuomo is expected to sign the amendments into law shortly....more
Just before the end of its session, the New York Legislature expanded protections against discrimination and harassment under the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL). The Governor still has to sign the new bill into law,...more
On February 18, 2019, the NYC Commission on Human Rights issued guidance and announced that the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”) will now protect against a new class of discrimination – hair. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: New York City recently released guidance that ensures that all New Yorkers, with an emphasis on black people, have a right to wear their “natural hair, treated or untreated hairstyles such as locs,...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The New York City Commission on Human Rights (the “Commission”) is proposing to amend its rules to establish certain definitions and clarify the scope of protections with respect to gender under the New...more
In a solid win for New York City employers, the New York Court of Appeals held that a worker cannot bring a disability discrimination claim under New York City law based solely on a perception of untreated alcoholism. Through...more
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently signed into law an amendment to the New York City Human Rights Law (the “NYCHRL”) prohibiting discrimination on the basis of uniformed service. The amendment takes effect on...more
An amendment to the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) introduced before the City Council this week would add current or prior service in the uniformed services as a protected class under the law. If approved by the...more
After agreeing last week on a 2016-17 Executive Budget that includes several key labor and employment provisions, New York State Independent Democratic Caucus Leader Jeffrey Klein declared that “[t]his truly is the Year of...more
Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Commissioner and Chair of the New York City Commission on Human Rights Carmelyn P. Malalis announced on February 9, 2016 that the Commission would begin accepting requests for and issue U and T...more
As we reported in a blog post last month, although neither the federal nor state law expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression, Governor Cuomo bypassed the legislative process and urged...more
On January 5, 2016, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a bill amending the New York City Human Rights Law to extend non-discrimination protections to “caregivers.” The law will now allow employees to sue employers on...more
On October 21, 2015, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a number of bills, which cumulatively expand protections against gender discrimination, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and human trafficking. This...more
Employers in New York City (NYC) now face restrictions on the types of information they can seek about prospective employees, either through job applications, interviews, independent research or background checks. This is due...more
The Commission’s guide outlines narrow interpretation and recordkeeping requirements for employers seeking exemptions to the SCDEA, as well as guidance on enforcement and penalties for SCDEA violations....more
On May 6, 2015, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law a bill amending the city’s Human Rights Law to prohibit employers from using an individual’s credit history to make employment decisions. The law will become...more