Laura Fant
Associate
As an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department and co-chair of the Disability, Accommodations & Leave Management Practice Group, Laura Fant frequently counsels on employee leave and accommodation matters involving the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and related state and local laws. She also provides general employment counseling and has experience reviewing and updating employee handbooks and company policies, as well as providing training on topics such as discrimination and harassment in the workplace, social media, and the accommodation of physical and mental disabilities. Laura is a frequent contributor to Proskauer’s Law and the Workplace blog.
Before joining the Firm, Laura was assistant general counsel to the City of New York's Office of Labor Relations. Prior to that, she was law clerk to Judge Jose L. Fuentes of the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, and a judicial intern to Judge Laura Taylor Swain of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
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New York City’s new law requiring employers to engage in a “cooperative dialogue” with employees requesting reasonable accommodation and provide a written determination at the end of the cooperative dialogue process takes effect on October 15, 2018. As we have previously reported, while the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) has long required that … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partner Evandro Gigante and associate Laura Fant discuss recent amendments to New York State law prohibiting sexual harassment. The law will require employers to distribute policies prohibiting sexual harassment in the work place and implement annual training on sexual harassment. These policies, which much be distributed by October 9, 2018, … Continue Reading
As we have previously reported, New York State has enacted several significant measures regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. Effective October 9, 2018, all New York State employers are required to adopt written sexual harassment prevention policies and institute annual anti-harassment training for employees (see below for more details on specific requirements and deadlines). After … Continue Reading
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development has issued proposed rules for the recently enacted New Jersey paid sick leave act (the “Act”), which will take effect on October 29, 2018. The proposed rules will be subject to a 60-day public comment period. As we have previously reported, the Act will require employers … Continue Reading
Governor Bruce Rauner has signed into law a bill that expands protections for employees needing to express breast milk in the workplace. The law amends the preexisting Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act (the “Act”) in several significant ways—most notably that break time provided for the expression of milk “may not reduce an employee’s compensation” … Continue Reading
As we have previously reported, pursuant to provisions of the state budget signed into law this past April, effective October 9, 2018, all New York State employers will be required to adopt written sexual harassment prevention policies and institute annual anti-harassment training for employees. To that end, New York State has just launched a new … Continue Reading
San Antonio, Texas has become the latest jurisdiction to enact a law providing eligible employees with paid leave for their own medical needs, those of family members, and for other covered reasons. The new Ordinance is scheduled to take effect on August 1, 2019 for employers with more than five employees, and on August 1, … Continue Reading
The New York City Commission on Human Rights (the “Commission”) has issued a Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment on proposed rules to establish certain definitions and clarify the scope of protections against discrimination with respect to gender identity or expression under the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”). The proposed definitions … Continue Reading
The New York City Commission on Human Rights (the “Commission”) has issued a mandatory notice posting and information sheet for distribution to employees pursuant to the recently enacted Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act (the “Act”). As we have previously reported, the Act, which was signed into law by Mayor Bill de Blasio on May … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, senior counsel Harris Mufson and associate Laura Fant discuss the New York City Temporary Schedule Change Law that recently went to effect. This law effectively requires employers to grant employee requests for temporary schedule changes for certain medical and family care purposes, which can include caring for a minor child or for … Continue Reading
As we have previously reported, effective July 18, 2018, employers in New York City are now required to grant employee requests for temporary work schedule changes when needed for certain medical and family care purposes. Employers are required to grant such requests either twice per calendar year for up to one business day per request, … Continue Reading
Hawaii Governor David Ige has signed into law a bill that will restrict employers from inquiring about applicants’ salary history during the hiring process. In addition, the law prohibits employers from retaliating or discriminating against employees for, or restricting employees from, disclosing their own wages or discussing and inquiring about the wages of other employees. … Continue Reading
New Hampshire has enacted a law to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodation. The law, which amends the state’s Law Against Discrimination, takes effect July 8, 2018. The law will make it an unlawful discriminatory practice for an employer to: (i) refuse to hire or employ; (ii) bar or … Continue Reading
Duluth, Minnesota has become the latest jurisdiction to enact a law providing eligible employees with paid leave for their own medical needs, those of a family member, or other covered reasons. The Ordinance will take effect on January 1, 2020. The Ordinance will apply to employers with five or more employees nationwide. Covered workers in … Continue Reading
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy has signed into law a bill that will restrict employers from inquiring about applicants’ salary history during the hiring process. The law will take effect on January 1, 2019. Under the law, employers will be prohibited from inquiring or directing a third party to inquire about a prospective employee’s wage history, … Continue Reading
Vermont has become the latest jurisdiction to enact a law that will prohibit employers from inquiring about, seeking, or requiring salary history information from prospective employees. The law will take effect on July 1, 2018. Under the law, employers and their agents will be prohibited from: inquiring about or seeking information regarding a prospective employee’s … Continue Reading
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) has signed into law the New Jersey Paid Sick Leave Act (the “Act”), which will provide eligible employees with paid leave for their own medical needs, those of a family member, or other covered reasons. The Act will take effect on October 29, 2018. Covered Employers and Employees The … Continue Reading
On May 9, 2018, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law the Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act (the “Act”), which, as we previously reported, is a package of bills aimed at addressing and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. The signing of the Act triggers the countdown to the effective dates … Continue Reading
As anticipated, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed into law the Diane B. Allen Pay Equity Act (the “Act”). The Act will take effect on July 1, 2018, giving employers approximately two months to review their policies to ensure compliance. As we previously reported, the Act will, among other things, make it an unlawful … Continue Reading
On April 3, 2018, the Antitrust Division of the U.S Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced that it had reached a settlement in a matter involving a “no-poaching” agreement between employers—the first such enforcement action under the Trump Administration. The DOJ’s pursuit of the matter reflects the Department’s continuing scrutiny of employment and hiring agreements between … Continue Reading
The Westchester County, NY Board of Legislators has unanimously enacted legislation that will prohibit employers and their agents from relying on, requiring, requesting, or seeking information about a prospective employee’s wage history during the hiring process. The Wage History Anti-Discrimination Law (the “Law”) will become effective on July 9, 2018. The Law amends the Westchester … Continue Reading
The New Jersey state legislature has passed a new pay equity law which will, among other things, make it an unlawful employment practice to pay employees of any protected class under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”) at a lesser rate than other employees who perform “substantially similar work” unless the differential is based … Continue Reading
The New York City Council has passed the Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act (the “Act”), a package of bills aimed at addressing and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. The legislation is now awaiting the signature of Mayor Bill de Blasio. As we previously discussed in an earlier post, the Act would amend the New York City … Continue Reading
On April 12, 2018, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the New York State budget, which, as we previously reported, includes several significant measures directed at both private and government employers regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. The signing of the budget bills triggers the countdown to the effective dates of the various … Continue Reading
New York City “Cooperative Dialogue” Law for Employees Seeking Reasonable Accommodation Takes Effect October 15
By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Workplace Policies and Procedures
[Podcast]: New York State Anti-Harassment Law
New York State Issues Final Guidance on Sexual Harassment Policy and Training Requirements In Advance of October 9 Effective Date
Proposed Rules Issued for New Jersey Paid Sick Leave Act
Illinois Expands Workplace Protections for Breastfeeding Employees
New York State Releases Draft Anti-Sexual Harassment Training and Policy Models for Public Comment
San Antonio, Texas Enacts Paid Sick Leave Law … But Will It Live to Go Into Effect?
By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
NYC Commission on Human Rights Issues Proposed Rules Relating to Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Expression
NYC Commission on Human Rights Issues Mandatory Anti-Sexual Harassment Poster and Employee Information Sheet
[Podcast]: New York City Temporary Schedule Change Law
Mandatory Posting Requirement Announced for NYC Temporary Schedule Change Law
Hawaii Enacts Salary History Inquiry Law
New Hampshire Expands Protections Against Discrimination to Include Gender Identity
Duluth, Minnesota Enacts Paid Sick Leave Law
By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Connecticut Enacts Salary History Inquiry Law
By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Vermont Enacts Salary History Inquiry Law
New Jersey Enacts Statewide Paid Sick Leave Law
By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Maryssa Mataras on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Mayor de Blasio Signs Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act Into Law
New Jersey Governor Signs Sweeping Pay Equity Act Into Law
DOJ Announces First Settlement Under Trump Administration Regarding “No-Poach” Agreement
By Lloyd B. Chinn, Colin Kass, Laura Fant and Myra Din on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks, Non-Competes and Protection of Corporate Assets
Westchester County, New York Enacts Salary History Inquiry Law
New Jersey Legislature Passes New Pay Equity Bill
New York City Council Passes the Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act
By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Meika Freeman on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Governor Cuomo Signs New York State Budget Anti-Harassment Provisions Into Law
By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
