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 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
The New York State Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo have reached agreement on a $168 billion budget deal for the 2019 fiscal year, which began on April 1, 2018. The budget includes several significant measures directed at both private and government employers regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. Many of the measures mirror legislation that … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, senior counsel Harris Mufson and associate Laura Fant discuss the latest developments in Title VII. We will discuss the two recent circuit court decisions concerning the scope of sex discrimination under Title VII, one by the Second Circuit and the other by the Sixth Circuit. In addition, we will highlight some of … Continue Reading
In a unanimous decision in EEOC v. R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes, Inc., a three-judge Sixth Circuit panel has held that discrimination on the basis of transgender status is “necessarily” discrimination on the basis of sex and therefore prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”). Background The case … Continue Reading
The New York City Council will consider a series of bills aimed at preventing and addressing workplace sexual harassment, both in the private sector and in city agencies. The eleven bills, collectively titled the Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act, were jointly introduced by the Council Committee on Women and the Committee on Civil and … Continue Reading
In an en banc decision in Zarda v. Altitude Express, Inc., the Second Circuit has become the latest federal appeals court to hold that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”). Background The case involved Donald Zarda, a gay … Continue Reading
The Austin, Texas City Council has enacted a paid sick and safe leave ordinance, becoming the first southern city to pass such a law for private sector employees. The ordinance will take effect on October 1, 2018 for employers with five or more employees; coverage for smaller employers begins on October 1, 2020. Employees who work … Continue Reading
Newly enacted amendments to the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) have expanded state anti-discrimination protections in the workplace, housing, and in public accommodations to include individuals who are breastfeeding or expressing milk. The amendments also require employers to provide reasonable accommodation to breastfeeding employees. The amendments took effect immediately upon signing by the Governor … Continue Reading
The New York City Council has passed a bill that will require employers to grant requests for temporary work schedule changes when needed for certain medical and family care purposes. UPDATE: The bill became law on January 19, 2018 after Mayor Bill de Blasio neither signed nor vetoed it. It takes effect on July 18, … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, senior counsel Harris Mufson and associate Laura Fant discuss recent amendments to the New York Earned Sick Time Act, which provides paid sick days for eligible employees working in New York City. We will discuss how the recent changes will now both expand the covered reasons for leave under the law, and … Continue Reading
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has signed into law an amendment to the NYC Earned Sick Time Act expanding the covered reasons for leave under the law, as well as broadening the definition of a covered family member for whom an employee may take leave to provide care. The amendments take effect on … Continue Reading
The New York City Council has passed a bill that would amend the NYC Earned Sick Time Act (“ESTA”) to expand the covered reasons for leave to include situations where an employee or an employee’s family member is a victim of domestic violence, sexual offenses, stalking or human trafficking. The bill would also expand the … Continue Reading
With the January 1, 2018 effective date for the New York Paid Family Leave Law fast approaching, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (“WCB”) has issued model paid family leave (“PFL”) request and certification forms, as well as a model waiver form. The forms are available on the WCB’s New York Paid Family Leave … Continue Reading
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
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
New York State Budget Includes Workplace Anti-Sexual Harassment Measures
By Allan Bloom, Laura Fant and Bassam Gergi on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
[Podcast]: Recent Developments in Title VII
Sixth Circuit Holds Discrimination Based on Transgender Status is Prohibited Under Title VII
By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
NYC Council to Consider Series of Bills Aimed at Addressing Workplace Sexual Harassment
By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Meika Freeman on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Second Circuit Rules Sexual Orientation Discrimination Is Prohibited Under Title VII
By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Austin, Texas Enacts Paid Sick and Safe Leave Law
By Allan Bloom, Laura Fant and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Leaves of Absences
New Jersey Enacts State Anti-Discrimination Protections for Breastfeeding
UPDATE: NYC Council Passes Bill Requiring Accommodation of Temporary Schedule Changes for Certain Medical and Family Care Purposes
By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation
[Podcast]: Recent Amendments to the New York Earned Sick Time Act
By Harris Mufson and Laura Fant on Posted in The Proskauer Brief Podcast, Vacation policy
Bill Expanding Coverage Under the NYC Earned Sick Time Act Signed Into Law
By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Leaves of Absences
NYC Council Passes Bill to Expand Coverage Under the Earned Sick Time Act
By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Leaves of Absences
Model Leave Request, Certification and Waiver Forms Issued for the New York Paid Family Leave Law
By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Leaves of Absences
