Tag: Harassment Protections

New York State Senate Passes New Harassment Protections New York's Senate has passed legislation to strengthen the state's workplace sexual harassment protections. The new legislation institutes protections for both public and private employees. If the state's governor signs the legislation into law, it will establish bans on no rehire clauses in separation agreements, extend protections for public and private employers under the Human Rights law and against retaliation, extend the statute, enact the Let Survivors Speak Act, increase the statute of limitations for certain violations, and create a new sexual harassment hotline. These new laws would create extensive protections for employees and close several loopholes in existing laws, as well as remove several differences in protection between public and private employers. The individual pieces of legislation which have been passed include: The Let Survivors Speak Act: Senate Bill S738 would amend the state's existing laws regarding non-disclosure agreements which create penalties for survivors of sexual abuses. The law would prohibit non-disclosure agreements that would require plaintiffs in a sexual abuse-related case to pay damages for violation of the agreement. Increased Statute of Limitations for Complaints of Discrimination: Senate Bill S566A would increase the statute of limitations for allegations of unlawful discriminatory practices to be brought to the New York State Division of Human Rights. Ban on No-Rehire Clauses: Senate Bill S766 would institute a ban on no-rehire clauses making any agreements which they are a component of unenforceable. These no-rehire clauses are clauses in a settlement agreement between an employer and an employee or independent contractor which would release a claim conditioned upon an agreement that the employee or contractor are prohibited from applying to, accepting, or engaging in any future employment with the employing entity. Increased Statute of Limitations for Complaints of Discrimination: Senate Bill S849A would extend the statute of limitations for employment discrimination, including harassment, to a total of six years, up from the previous limit of three years. Assistance to Victims of Illegal Retaliation: Senate Bill S5870 bans the termination of employees as retaliation for assisting in proceedings of or complaining of unlawful discrimination by an employer. Extension of New York Human Rights Law: Senate Bill S3395A would include public employers under the New York Human Rights Law equivalently to private employers. Previously interpretations of employers did not include certain workers such as staff of political officials and judges in many cases. Workplace Sexual Harassment Hotline: Senate Bill S812A would establish a confidential legal hotline for complaints of sexual harassment. The number for the hotline will be toll-free and allow complainants access to attorneys acting in a pro-bono capacity for assistance. Sources

Tag: Harassment Protections

New York State Senate Passes New Harassment Protections

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