New Workplace Discrimination And Harassment Protection Laws in New York
Knowing the laws regarding workplace discrimination and harassment is important whether you are an employee or an employer. In 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that helps strengthen protections in the workplace. These anti-discrimination laws make sure that employees can seek justice and perpetrators are held accountable by removing the restriction that said harassment must be pervasive or severe to be legally actionable. A workplace discrimination lawyer in New York can help represent you if you have been a victim of these injustices at your workplace.
New Workplace Harassment Laws
These laws require that all non-disclosure agreements allow employees to file harassment complaints and also extend the statute of limitations for all employment sexual harassment claims from one to three years starting in August 2020. These laws have gone into effect since August 2019.
Harassment is defined as any “inferior terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.” A complainant does not have to complain to their employer or file any formal grievance to establish liability. They also do not have to identify any other person or employee that was treated more favorably in their claim.
The new laws also state that any non-employees (vendors, consultants, contractors, or subcontractors) who are working in a workplace are also protected from the same discrimination. Settlements of these employment discrimination claims can include the conditions in confidentiality if the complainant prefers.
As of January 1, 2020, settlements cannot prevent complainants from speaking to attorneys, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, any local human rights commission, or any law enforcement. As of February 2020, these laws apply to all New York employers, including those with less than four employees.
Seek legal help to file a workplace discrimination claim in New York
At the Law Offices of G. Oliver Koppell & Associates, we are committed to helping our clients get the settlements and results they deserve. Our New York law firm is led by former New York Attorney General, G. Oliver Koppell. We have extensive legal experience helping clients who need our legal expertise for justice. To schedule a consultation to speak with a workplace discrimination lawyer in New York today, call our law office at 800-544-0484.