On December 19, 2019, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation amending the state’s Law Against Discrimination to include hairstyle discrimination as a form of prohibited race-based discrimination. The Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair Act (“CROWN Act”) became effective immediately, making New Jersey the third state, along with New York and […]
Undocumented workers in New York face unique workplace challenges that documented laborers do not experience, not the least of which is being taken advantage of by employers that fail to pay the minimum wage or overtime pay. Nonetheless, undocumented workers are entitled to the same legal protections as documented individuals under state and federal labor […]
An amendment to the New York Labor Law went into effect on January 6, 2020, prohibiting private and public employers in the state from relying on or inquiring about salary history in employment and compensation decisions. A similar ban became effective in New Jersey as of January 1, 2020. The best way for employees and […]
On January 12, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor issued its final “joint-employer” rule that replaces an Obama Administration policy that potentially would have made more businesses liable for wage violations engaged in by franchisees and contractors. The new rule, which becomes effective March 16, provides a four-part test for determining whether a company is […]
The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) final overtime rule becomes effective January 1, 2020. The best way for employees and employers to understand their rights and responsibilities under the new rule, respectively, is to consult an experienced employment lawyer. What’s in the DOL’s new overtime rule? In short, the rule increases the salary thresholds for […]
For 22 years, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has maintained a policy statement objecting to the use of mandatory arbitration agreements for employment discrimination claims. In December 2019, the agency rescinded its long-standing policy statement in a 2-1 decision. In light of this development, the best way for employees to protect their rights against […]
Employment discrimination based on race, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and other protected characteristics is prohibited by the New York State Human Rights Law — the state’s primary employment discrimination law. Workplace discrimination is also barred by the New York Labor Law, however, which has recently been amended to include discrimination on the […]
Earlier in 2019, the New York City Commission on Human Rights issued guidance to the effect that prohibiting or restricting a natural African-American hairstyle in the workplace is a form of unlawful racial discrimination under the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). If your employer has a grooming policy that treats you less favorably […]
Even with the continued economic expansion and the nation’s unemployment rate at historic lows, it is still common for large corporations to layoff thousands of employees at a time. Losing a job is one of the top ten most stressful experiences for individuals, resulting in financial hardships that can affect the entire family. More than […]
In August 2019, Governor Cuomo signed legislation amending the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) that essentially strengthens worker protections against discrimination and harassment. Some of the new legal requirements are already in effect and more are on tap for the coming year. The following is a brief discussion of the new workplace discrimination […]
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