Laura Fant
Special Employment Law Counsel
Laura Fant is a special employment law counsel in the Labor & Employment Law Department and co-administrative leader of the Counseling, Training & Pay Equity Practice Group. Her practice is dedicated to providing clients with practical solutions to common (and uncommon) employment concerns, with a focus on legal compliance, risk management and mitigation strategies, and workplace culture considerations.
Laura regularly counsels clients across numerous industries on a wide variety of employment matters involving recruitment and hiring, employee leave and reasonable accommodation issues, performance management, and termination of employment . She also advises on preparing, implementing and enforcing employment and separation agreements, employee handbooks and company policies, as well as provides training on topics including discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Laura is a frequent contributor to Proskauer’s Law and the Workplace blog and The Proskauer Brief podcast.
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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released updated posters regarding the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Employers covered by these laws are required to display copies of the posters in a conspicuous place where employees and applicants for employment can see them. The FLSA Minimum Wage … Continue Reading
On May 15, 2023, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) released updates to its “technical assistance” on COVID-19-related discrimination concerns in the workplace. The updated guidelines come in response to President Biden recently signing legislation that ended the COVID-19 National Emergency. EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows called this installment of “the capstone to our comprehensive … Continue Reading
***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
Effective July 31, 2023, pursuant to amendments signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy, several changes will impact employer compliance with the New Jersey Unemployment Compensation law. The increased penalties associated with these changes highlights the importance of ensuring compliance. First, there will be new reporting obligations upon the separation of an NJ employee. Existing … 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
*Update: On May 10, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 1718 into law.* The Florida Legislature has passed a bill that, if enacted, will require private employers with 25 or more employees to use the federal E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees beginning July 1, 2023. The bill, SB 1718, … 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
A trio of New York State Senators has proposed a bill that would create a cause of action for “wrongful discharge.” If enacted, the “Safeguarding Employees and Accountability for Termination (SEAT) Act” would be codified in a new Article 20-D of the Labor Law and take effect 90 days after being signed into law. The … Continue Reading
Effectively immediately, employers in New York State are required to make digital versions of required federal and state postings available to employees. Specifically, under an amendment to Section 201 of the N.Y. Labor Law, digital versions of “all . . . documents required to be physically posted at a worksite pursuant to state law or federal … Continue Reading
***UPDATE: Mayor Bruce Harrell signed the amendments into law on February 23, 2023.*** Seattle has become the first U.S. city to approve legislation amending city ordinances to prohibit discrimination on the basis of “caste,” including in the context of employment. The proposals now go before the mayor for signature. The legislative push was largely driven … Continue Reading
On February 7, 2023, Bill No. A03726 was introduced before the New York State Assembly which, if passed, would prohibit employers from inquiring about or making statements regarding “the arrest record or conviction record of any person who is in the process of applying for employment or interviewing for employment with such employer.” This proposed … Continue Reading
***UPDATE: Governor Hochul signed the amendments into law on March 3, 2023.*** The New York State Legislature has approved chapter amendments to New York State’s pay transparency law, which is slated to take effect on September 17, 2023. The most notable revision would provide that the law applies to remote positions physically performed outside of … Continue Reading
The New York State legislature is considering a bill (A.3737/S.4259) that would expand the covered reasons for leave under the New York Paid Family Leave Law (“NYPFLL”) to include fetal and infant bereavement. Currently, the NYPFLL provides eligible New York employees with up to 12 weeks of partially paid leave in a rolling 12-month period … Continue Reading
***UPDATE: New Jersey has launched a website to provide additional guidance on the new law, found here. Additional guidance is also expected nearing the August 5 implementation date for many of the laws provisions.*** On February 6, 2023, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed the Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights (A1474/S511) into law. The law … Continue Reading
The New York Department of Labor has issued a required posting regarding benefits and services available to military veterans in accordance with S.1961B/A3913. The law, which took effect on January 1, 2023 and amends the NY Labor Law, requires New York employers with more than 50 full-time equivalent employees to display the poster “in a … Continue Reading
A proposed ordinance has been introduced before the New York City Council to significantly expand the existing NYC pay transparency law. As we have previously reported, the current law requires most New York City employers to disclose the minimum and maximum salary or hourly wage for open roles in postings for job, promotions or transfer … Continue Reading
Key Takeaways Individuals with a variety of hearing conditions may have disabilities covered by the ADA. Pre-job offer disability-related questions can violate the ADA, but certain questions regarding the ability of a candidate to perform the essential functions of the role may be permissible. Employers have a duty to provide accommodations for job applicants and … 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
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
A proposed ordinance has been introduced before the New York City Council to generally prohibit private employers from terminating employees without “just cause” or a “bona fide economic reason.” If enacted, this proposal effectively eliminates the longstanding principle of at-will employment in New York City. The proposed ordinance also would limit the use of electronic … 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
A new federal law invalidating pre-dispute arbitration agreements for sexual harassment and sexual assault claims does not apply retroactively, a New Jersey appeals court recently confirmed. In Zuluaga v. Altice USA (N.J. App. Div. Nov. 29, 2022), the plaintiff had signed an arbitration agreement waiving her right to bring employment-related disputes in court when she … Continue Reading
***UPDATE: On December 7, 2022, President Biden signed the Speak Out Act into law. The law takes effect immediately.*** In a bipartisan 315-109 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill that would render pre-dispute nondisclosure and nondisparagement clauses judicially unenforceable with respect to sexual assault or sexual harassment disputes. The bill previously … Continue Reading
Effective November 6, 2022, the Westchester County (NY) Human Rights Law is amended to require that employers with at least four employees that are posting job, transfer or promotion opportunities which “are required to be performed, in whole or in part, in Westchester County, whether from an office, in the field, or remotely”** state the … Continue Reading
Department of Labor Issues Updated FLSA and FMLA Posters
By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
EEOC Issues Updated “Capstone” Guidance on COVID-19 After Declaration of End of Public Health Emergency
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
Employers Face New Reporting Obligations and Other Changes Under New Jersey Unemployment Compensation Law
COVID-19 and the Workplace: Where Do We Stand?
Florida Poised to Mandate Use of E-Verify for Private Employers
By Evandro Gigante, Jurate Schwartz, Laura Fant and Madonna Snowden on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks, Immigration
New York State Releases Updated Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy and Training
New York State Legislators Propose “Wrongful Discharge” Law
By Allan Bloom, Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Hannah Morris on Posted in Performance Management, Discipline & Termination
New York Employers Must Make Required Workplace Postings Available Electronically to Employees
By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
UPDATED: Seattle City Council Approves First-in-the-U.S. Ban on Caste Discrimination
By Steven J. Pearlman and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Proposed Legislation Limiting Inquiries into an Applicant’s Criminal History Prior to an Offer of Employment Introduced in the New York State Legislature
By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Margo Richard on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks
UPDATED: New York State Enacts Amendments to Pay Transparency Law Taking Effect Later This Year
By Allan Bloom, Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Scott Tan on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks, Pay Equity
New York Considering Expanding NY Paid Family Leave Law to Include Fetal and Infant Bereavement Purposes
By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Leaves of Absences
UPDATED: New Jersey Enacts Temporary Workers’ Bill Of Rights Law
By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Margo Richard on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
New York Issues Required Posting Regarding Veteran Benefits and Services
By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
NYC Council to Consider Expanding the City’s Pay Transparency Law to Mandate Disclosures Regarding Bonuses, Equity and Other “Non-Wage” Compensation
By Allan Bloom, Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Hannah Morris on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks
EEOC Releases Updated Guidance on ADA Requirements for Individuals with Hearing Disabilities in the Workplace
By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Alisha Bruce on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
New York State Releases Proposed Changes to Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy
Employers, Are Your Leave Policies Ready to Ring in 2023?
NYC Council Considering Proposal To Significantly Limit At-Will Employment and Electronic Monitoring of Employees
By Evandro Gigante, Joseph O’Keefe, Laura Fant and Hannah Morris on Posted in Performance Management, Discipline & Termination
Looking Ahead to 2023: Pay Transparency Developments
Federal Law Prohibiting Pre-Dispute Arbitration of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Claims Not Retroactive, New Jersey Court Confirms
By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Dixie Morrison on Posted in Arbitration
UPDATED: President Biden Signs Bill Limiting Pre-dispute Nondisclosure Agreements in Sexual Harassment and Assault Disputes
By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
