Arielle E. Kobetz
Arielle E. Kobetz is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department and a member of the Employment Counseling & Training Group. Her practice focuses on providing clients with strategies and counseling related to a variety of workplace-related disputes, including employee terminations and discipline, leave and accommodation requests, and general employee relations matters. She also counsels clients on developing, implementing and enforcing personnel policies and procedures and reviewing and revising employee handbooks under federal, state and local law.
Prior to joining Proskauer, Arielle served as a law clerk at the New York City Human Resources Administration, Employment Law Unit, where she worked on a variety of employment discrimination and internal employee disciplinary issues.
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***UPDATED: Mayor Adams signed the ordinance into law on May 26, 2023. The law takes effect on November 22, 2023.*** The New York City Council has approved an ordinance that, if enacted, would amend the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”) to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and access to public accommodation based on … Continue Reading
As we have reported previously, on April 10, 2023 President Biden signed legislation ending the COVID-19 National Emergency. However, the rollback of COVID-19 workplace requirements was already underway in many state and municipal legislatures, with some requirements having previously been repealed or with others scheduled to (or already having) sunset. With this transition, employers are … Continue Reading
The New York State Department of Labor (“DOL”) has released its long-awaited updated model sexual harassment prevention policy that addresses issues such as gender identity, remote work, and bystander intervention. As we previously reported, the DOL published proposed changes to the model policy in January of this year, and the updated policy largely mirrors those … Continue Reading
On January 12, 2023 the New York State Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued an updated Proposed Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy which, among other things, addresses remote work, gender identity and bystander intervention methods. The public has 30 days (until February 11) to comment on the proposed revisions prior to a final version being adopted. … Continue Reading
There is no doubt that 2022 was an eventful year in employment law. In this post, we review some key developments from the prior year that employers should be aware of and hot topics to watch out for as we move forward into 2023. Salary and Pay Transparency The trend of enacting salary and pay … Continue Reading
With the arrival of the new year comes the effective date of many new leave laws (and expansion of existing leave laws) across the United States. Below we summarize family and sick leave laws that will take effect across various states in 2023. California California employers will see two main changes to leave laws in … Continue Reading
Effective December 31, 2022, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Employer Commuter Transit Benefit Program requires covered employers to make available for all covered employees a mass transit and bicycle commuter benefits program. For purposes of the law, covered employers are those that employ fifty or more covered employees, which are defined as any person who performs an … Continue Reading
As we previously reported, as of November 1, 2022, New York City’s salary transparency law requires covered employers who advertise or post a job, promotion, or transfer opportunity for a role that can or will be performed, at least in part, in NYC to disclose in such advertisement of posting the minimum and maximum annual … Continue Reading
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law an amendment to the NY State Labor Law that will expand workplace protections for nursing employees, effective June 7, 2023. The new law builds upon already-existing requirements under the Labor Law to provide reasonable unpaid break time (or permit employees to use paid break time) to express … Continue Reading
On October 1, 2022, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas held that Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) guidance addressing sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in the workplace is unlawful. The case is State of Texas v. EEOC, Case No. 2:21-cv-00194-Z. Background As we previously reported, on June 15, 2020, … Continue Reading
As we approach the New Year, employers should keep in mind that several updates to the New York Paid Family Leave Law (“NYPFLL”) are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2023. In effect since 2018, the NYPFLL provides a phased-in system of paid, job protected leave for eligible employees: (i) to care for a … Continue Reading
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced that the City’s private employee COVID-19 vaccine mandate will be lifted effective November 1, 2022. As we previously reported, the NYC mandate requires all private workers in New York City who perform in-person work or interact with the public to show proof they have received at least … Continue Reading
On July 19, 2022, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the state’s confidential hotline for complaints of workplace sexual harassment. As we previously reported, S812A (enacted in March 2022) establishes a toll-free confidential hotline, administered by the New York State Department of Human Rights (NYSDHR), “to provide individuals with complaints of workplace … Continue Reading
***UPDATE: Governor Hochul signed the bill into law on November 21, 2022. It takes effect on February 19, 2023.*** The New York State legislature recently passed a bill (Senate Bill S1958A) that, if and when enacted into law, would amend the New York Labor Law to clarify that employers who maintain “no fault” or absence … Continue Reading
The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Insurance has announced that the Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave (“MEPSL”) will expire on March 15, 2022, and employers have until April 29, 2022 to file their applications for reimbursements. This means employees may continue to take leave under the program through March 15th, but employers then have until … Continue Reading
***UPDATE: beginning February 15, 2022, indoor venues will no longer be required to verify that patrons are vaccinated (though businesses may choose to keep vaccination requirements in place). Additional information is available here.*** Starting January 15, 2022, DC will require the following establishments to verify that their guests, visitors and consumers ages 12 and older … Continue Reading
Effective January 1, 2022, Phila. Code § 9-5500 now prohibits Philadelphia employers from requiring job applicants to submit to pre-employment drug tests for marijuana use. Specifically, the ordinance makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer, labor organization, or employment agency (or agent thereof) to require prospective employees to submit to testing for the … Continue Reading
**UPDATE: On December 24, 2021, the bill lapsed into law, retroactive to November 2, 2021.** The New York City Council approved a bill that amends the City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act to require employers to provide paid COVID-19 child vaccination leave. Without signature from Mayor Bill de Blasio, the bill lapses into law … Continue Reading
Effective December 21, 2021, through at least January 31, 2022, DC law requires that all individuals wear masks in indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status. As we previously reported, just last month DC Mayor Muriel Bowser significantly scaled back the District’s indoor mask mandate, which had required masks in all indoor public places since … Continue Reading
Over the past decade many employers have adopted Artificial Intelligence driven tools to automate various aspects of the workplace, including the recruiting and hiring process. These tools have come under scrutiny by federal, state and local governments based on research that has suggested the possibility of bias or discrimination arising from the widespread use of … Continue Reading
***UPDATE: the Emergency Act has been extended through at least May 4, 2022.*** DC Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law the COVID Vaccination Leave Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (“Emergency Act”), which requires employers to provide paid leave to employees and their children for time spent obtaining and, if needed, recovering from side effects of … Continue Reading
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that on November 22, 2021, the District’s indoor mask mandate – one of, if not the most restrictive mask mandate – will be significantly scaled back. The current mandate, which went into effect on July 31, 2021, requires masks in all indoor public places for all individuals over age two, … Continue Reading
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law a bill that will require employers to provide notice to employees of electronic monitoring of telephone, email, and internet access and usage. The law, which takes effect on May 7, 2022, will require all private employers, regardless of size, with a place of business in New … Continue Reading
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law an amendment to the New York Paid Family Leave Law (NYPFLL), which will allow employees to take leave to care for siblings with a serious health condition. In effect since 2018, the NYPFLL provides a phased-in system of paid, job protected leave for eligible employees: (i) to … Continue Reading
UPDATED: New York City Council Approves Ordinance Prohibiting Discrimination Based on a Person’s Height or Weight
By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant, Arielle E. Kobetz and Alisha Bruce on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
COVID-19 and the Workplace: Where Do We Stand?
New York State Releases Updated Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy and Training
New York State Releases Proposed Changes to Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy
2022 Labor & Employment Year in Review … and Looking Ahead to 2023
Employers, Are Your Leave Policies Ready to Ring in 2023?
Philadelphia Commuter Transit Benefits Coming Soon
By Evandro Gigante, Arielle E. Kobetz and Jennifer McGrew on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
Looking Ahead to 2023: Pay Transparency Developments
New York State Expands Workplace Protections for Nursing Employees
By Evandro Gigante, Laura M. Fant and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
Texas District Court Holds EEOC Guidance on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination Unlawful
By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant, Arielle E. Kobetz and Dakota D. Treece on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
New York Paid Family Leave Law: Are You Ready for 2023?
By Evandro Gigante and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
New York City to End Private Employee COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Coronavirus
New York State’s Workplace Sexual Harassment Complaint Hotline is Live
By Evandro Gigante, Laura M. Fant and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
UPDATED: New York State Enacts Law That Prohibits No Fault Attendance Policies
By Steven Hurd, Matthew Rosenthal and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Program to End March 15, 2022
By Arielle E. Kobetz, Rebecca Fishbein and Mark W. Batten on Posted in Coronavirus, Leaves of Absences
DC Enacts Vaccine Mandate For Certain Indoor Establishments
By Guy Brenner and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Coronavirus
Philadelphia Enacts Ordinance to Prohibit Pre-Employment Marijuana Testing
By Steven Hurd, Arielle E. Kobetz and Claudia Khoury-Yacoub on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
NYC Employers Must Provide Paid COVID-19 Child Vaccination Leave
By Steven Hurd and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Coronavirus
More Whiplash — DC Brings Back Mask Mandate and Encourages Vaccine Mandates
By Guy Brenner and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Coronavirus
New York City Enacts Law to Regulate Use of Automated Hiring Tools
DC Enacts (Another) COVID-19 Emergency Leave Law
By Guy Brenner and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Coronavirus
DC Announces End to Indoor Mask Mandate
By Guy Brenner and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Coronavirus
New York State Enacts Phone, Email, and Internet Monitoring Notice Law for Private Employers
By Ryan P. Blaney, Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
New York Paid Family Leave Law Amended to Allow Leave to Care for Siblings
By Evandro Gigante and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
