Category Archives: Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Subscribe to Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation RSS FeedNew York State Releases Proposed Changes to Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy
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
2022 Labor & Employment Year in Review … and Looking Ahead to 2023
Looking Ahead to 2023: Pay Transparency Developments
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
UPDATED: President Biden Signs Bill Limiting Pre-dispute Nondisclosure Agreements in Sexual Harassment and Assault Disputes
***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
Westchester County, NY Pay Transparency Law Takes Effect
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
EEOC Releases Updated Workplace Discrimination Poster
Texas District Court Holds EEOC Guidance on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination Unlawful
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
Washington, D.C. to Expand Antidiscrimination Protections to Include Independent Contractors and Homeless Individuals
Effective October 1, 2022, an amendment to the District of Columbia’s Human Rights Act (“the Act”) will expand the universe of workers protected under the Act, as well as codify workplace harassment as an unlawful discriminatory practice. First, the amendment expands the Act’s definition of a protected “employee” to now also include individuals “working or … Continue Reading
UPDATE: New York City’s Pay Transparency Law Is Here – Are You Ready?
New York City’s pay transparency law, which requires most New York City employers to disclose salary ranges in their job postings, took effect on November 1, 2022. As we previously reported, the new law amends the New York City Human Rights Law to require covered employers who post a job, promotion, or transfer opportunity for … Continue Reading
New Massachusetts Law Creates Expanded Definition of Racial Discrimination in Employment and Other Areas to Encompass “Natural or Protective Hairstyles”
New York State’s Workplace Sexual Harassment Complaint Hotline is Live
EEOC Sanctions Employer for GINA Violations Relating to Collection of Employees’ Family Members’ COVID Test Results
Chicago City Council Expands Sexual Harassment Laws
On April 27, 2022, the Chicago City Council passed Ordinance 2022-665 (the “Ordinance”) amending the Municipal Code to enhance the City’s prohibitions on sexual harassment in the workplace. The amendments include, among other things, modified definitions of “sexual orientation” and “sexual harassment,” a new written policy requirement for employers, increased sexual harassment prevention training requirements, … Continue Reading
Fifth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of ADEA Claim Lacking Evidence of Age-Bias
Washington State to Require Employers to Provide Salary Ranges and Other Compensation Information in Job Postings
On March 30, 2022, Washington Governor Inslee signed into law a bill that will require employers to include a salary or pay range, as well as information about other compensation and benefits, in each job posting. The bill revises the existing state law that requires only that employers provide the minimum wage or salary for … Continue Reading
New York District Court Permanently Enjoins Reproductive Health Notice of Rights Requirement for Employee Handbooks
A Northern District of New York court has permanently enjoined the statewide requirement that employers include a notice of workers’ rights and remedies in their employee handbooks regarding the prohibition on discrimination based on reproductive health care choices. The requirement, which took effect in November 2019, was part of a broader bill amending the New … Continue Reading
NYC Commission on Human Rights Issues Guidance on Salary Disclosure Law
The New York City Commission on Human Rights (NYCCHR) has released a fact sheet providing some additional details and guidance regarding the upcoming salary disclosure law. As we previously reported, the new law will make it an unlawful discriminatory practice under the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) for a covered employer or its … Continue Reading
Bill Introduced to Amend (and Delay Effective Date of) NYC Salary Disclosure Law
***UPDATE: A revised version of this bill has been approved by the NYC Council. Read more here.*** A bill has been introduced before the NYC Council that would amend the recently enacted law requiring employers to include salary ranges in job postings. As we previously reported, the new law will make it an unlawful discriminatory … Continue Reading
Sweeping Expansion of Protections Relating to Workplace Discrimination on the Horizon in New York State
A suite of bills aimed at further enhancing protections for both employees and independent contractors regarding discrimination, harassment and retaliation in the workplace are on the horizon in New York State. Several of these bills, if ultimately enacted, would potentially lead to a groundbreaking shift in how employers approach settlement of discrimination, harassment and retaliation … Continue Reading
EEOC Releases New Guidance on COVID-related Caregiver Discrimination
On March 14, 2022, the EEOC released new guidance regarding caregiver discrimination and the COVID-19 pandemic, in light of many workplaces returning to in-person work. The new guidance supplements earlier guidance regarding the treatment of workers with caregiving responsibilities. The new guidance reiterates that while the status of being a caregiver is not a protected … Continue Reading
New York City Council Approves Bill Requiring Including Salary Ranges in Job Postings
***UPDATE: The bill was enacted into law on January 15, 2022 upon no action by the Mayor. The law takes effect on May 15, 2022.*** The New York City Council has approved a bill that would require NYC employers with four or more employees to include in job postings – including those for promotion or … Continue Reading
New York Department of Labor Issues Guidance on Cannabis and the Workplace
The New York State Department of Labor (“NYDOL”) has issued FAQ guidance addressing common questions regarding recreational cannabis use by employees in and outside of the workplace in light of the enactment earlier this year of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (“MRTA”). The MRTA legalized the use of recreational marijuana for individuals ages 21 … Continue Reading
