Seyfarth Synopsis: On June 15, 2021, Governor Cuomo announced that the State would be rolling back much of the industry-specific COVID-19 guidance as the State has hit its goal of a 70% adult vaccination rate, as discussed in...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Following Governor Cuomo’s announcement on June 7, 2021 that the State would be rolling back much of the industry-specific guidance upon hitting a 70% vaccination rate, as discussed in more detail here,...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont have been actively reviewing and easing their state’s respective COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Similar to mask mandates, COVID-19 passports—a means to prove one’s vaccination status—are becoming a political lightning rod in the United States. Where states like New York have viewed such passports as a...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As COVID-19 cases continue to fall in New York State, Governor Cuomo has announced that starting April 1, 2021, domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine after arriving in New York from a...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As COVID-19 cases rise across the nation and in the New York Metropolitan Area, both New York State and New Jersey have issued new restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As part of Governor Cuomo’s New York Forward plan, New York State has issued guidance for “Phase Three” industries,” which include personal care services and indoor dining. The guidance gives these...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Governor Cuomo has announced agreement on a law requiring New York employers to provide sick leave to eligible employees, as well as various forms of paid and unpaid leave for employees affected by...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Governor Cuomo has signed the bill requiring New York employers to provide leave for certain employees affected by COVID-19. But the portion of the bill providing for statewide paid sick leave has been...more
With the spread of COVID-19 fears, states and cities nationwide are in the process of issuing a variety of executive orders and other ordinances shutting down businesses that are considered “non-essential.” However, what is...more
3/19/2020
/ Business Closures ,
Business Interruption ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Dispensaries ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Executive Orders ,
Health Care Providers ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Operators of Essential Services ,
Retail Market ,
State and Local Government
Seyfarth Synopsis: The New York City Commission on Human Rights (the “City Commission”) has amended its guidance concerning the annual anti-sexual harassment training requirement under the Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act. ...more
2/28/2020
/ #MeToo ,
Anti-Harassment Policies ,
Corporate Culture ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Freelance Workers ,
Gig Economy ,
Harassment ,
Hostile Environment ,
Human Rights ,
Independent Contractors ,
Local Ordinance ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Sex Discrimination ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State and Local Government ,
Training
Seyfarth Synopsis: On February 18, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy announced proposed legislation amending New Jersey’s anti-workplace harassment laws for both public and private employers. ...more
2/21/2020
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Employee Definition ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Harassment ,
Hostile Environment ,
Labor Regulations ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Statute of Limitations
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
11/22/2019
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Employee Handbooks ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Human Rights ,
Labor Regulations ,
NYCHRL ,
Private Right of Action ,
Reproductive Discrimination ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws
Seyfarth Synopsis: As expected, Governor Cuomo signed another landmark piece of legislation amending New York’s anti-discrimination and sexual harassment laws. Not only does the law significantly expand the protections...more
8/15/2019
/ #MeToo ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Anti-Harassment Policies ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Faragher/Ellerth defense ,
New Legislation ,
NYSHRL ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws
Seyfarth Synopsis: All New York State employers must provide all employees with annual, interactive sexual harassment prevention training by October 9, 2019....more
7/5/2019
/ #MeToo ,
Anti-Harassment Policies ,
Corporate Culture ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Hostile Environment ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws
Seyfarth Synopsis: The New York State Legislature has passed, and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is expected to sign, a bill amending the state’s anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws. The legislation significantly expands...more
6/26/2019
/ #MeToo ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Anti-Harassment Policies ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Faragher/Ellerth defense ,
Harassment ,
Hostile Environment ,
Human Rights Act ,
Labor Regulations ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Pending Legislation ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act requires employers with 15 or more employees to conduct annual, interactive anti-sexual harassment training. The law went into effect April 1, 2019. ...more
4/11/2019
/ #MeToo ,
Anti-Harassment Policies ,
Corporate Culture ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Hostile Environment ,
Local Ordinance ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Sexual Harassment ,
Small Employers ,
State and Local Government
Seyfarth Synopsis: In response to the #MeToo movement, several states have passed legislation aimed at combatting workplace sexual harassment. ...more
3/28/2019
/ #MeToo ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Hostile Environment ,
New Legislation ,
Non-Disclosure Agreement ,
Settlement Agreements ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws
Seyfarth Synopsis: The New Jersey Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 121 affecting claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, which if signed into law, would render any prospective waiver of rights against...more
2/6/2019
/ Adverse Employment Action ,
Arbitration ,
Arbitration Agreements ,
Contract Terms ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Non-Disclosure Agreement ,
Proprietary Information ,
Retaliation ,
Settlement Agreements ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unenforceable Contract Terms ,
Waivers
Seyfarth Synopsis: In compliance with legislation passed earlier this year, New York State has released the final model sexual harassment policy and complaint form, the model training materials, and FAQs, which provide...more
10/4/2018
/ #MeToo ,
Anti-Harassment Policies ,
Complaint Procedures ,
Corporate Culture ,
Employee Rights ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Policies ,
Harassment ,
Hostile Environment ,
Local Ordinance ,
Non-Disclosure Agreement ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Sex Discrimination ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws
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
8/22/2018
/ Comment Period ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Gender Discrimination ,
Human Rights ,
LGBTQ ,
NYCHRL ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Sex Discrimination ,
State and Local Government ,
Transgender
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Commission has published the sexual harassment poster and information sheet mandated under the “Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act.” Employers must display the poster, and distribute the information...more
In the wake of the #MeToo movement, there has been considerable buzz surrounding workplace culture. For many employers, simply satisfying basic legal requirements is a thing of the past....more
8/7/2018
/ #MeToo ,
Anti-Harassment Policies ,
Corporate Culture ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Harassment ,
Hostile Environment ,
Leadership ,
Local Ordinance ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws
Seyfarth Synopsis: New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio have each signed new laws designed to combat workplace sexual harassment. Together, these new laws have resulted in sweeping...more
5/16/2018
/ Anti-Harassment Policies ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Hostile Environment ,
Local Ordinance ,
Mandatory Arbitration Clauses ,
New Legislation ,
Sex Discrimination ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws
Seyfarth Synopsis: The New York City Council has passed, and Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign, a package of eleven bills—together referred to as the Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act—that will require most private...more