Discrimination in Employment

Essential Workers

In response to the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Governor Ned Lamont has signed a new executive order. Executive Order No. 7JJJ creates a “rebuttable presumption” that an essential worker who initiates a claim for workers compensation benefits, and who missed at least one day of work between March 10, Read more

Victims of Domestic Violence

Earlier this year, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed Assembly Bill 5618, amending the New York Human Rights Law by adding victims of domestic violence as a protected class. Employers with four or more employees must allow employees who are victims of domestic violence time off to receive medical attention, access victim services, attend counseling, Read more

New Hampshire Employment Discrimination Peel 'N Post

The New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights has updated the mandatory New Hampshire Employment Discrimination posting. The posting, which lists all protected categories under the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, has been substantially redesigned. In 2018, the New Hampshire legislature enacted House Bill 1319, adding gender identity to the list of protected categories. The law Read more

Nursing Home Facilities

On July 1, 2019, Connecticut Governor Lamont signed Public Act No. 19-89 into law. The law, which goes into effect October 1, 2019, requires nursing home facilities in the state of Connecticut to post daily information and reinstate employees or residents after retaliation. Nursing home facilities must post at the beginning of each shift the Read more

Pregnant and Nursing Employees

During the 2019 legislative session, Governor Janet Mills signed HB 487, extending protections for pregnant and nursing employees in the state of Maine. Under the law, which goes into effect September 19, 2019, employers must provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions. Pregnancy-related condition is defined in the new law as “a known limitation of an Read more

Pregnant Workers

On April 9, 2019, Governor Matt Bevin signed the Kentucky Pregnant Workers Act requiring employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions. Employers should review and update all accommodation procedures. The Act became effective immediately. Under the Act, the definition of “reasonable accommodations” is expanded to include: Read more

Right to Work Poster

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and its E-Verify division have released a new Right to Work poster. Employers that participate in E-Verify must post the Right to Work poster along with the E-Verify Participation poster in the workplace. The posters must be displayed in both English and Spanish. Employers must replace previous Read more

Ban the Box

Starting today, March 4, 2019, employers in Westchester County, New York are prohibited from requesting job applicants to disclose criminal history in employment applications. The County Board of the County of Westchester passed the Fair Chance to Work Act to provide individuals with a criminal record a fair chance to apply to job positions. The Read more

NYC Hair Discrimination Guidance on Dreadlocks

The New York City Commission on Human Rights (NYCCHR) has released new enforcement guidance to let businesses covered by the city’s Human Rights Law know that the agency understands racial discrimination to include discrimination on the basis of hair style or texture. The guidance document specifically focuses on grooming or appearance policies which “ban, limit, Read more

California 2019 Minimum Wage Peel 'N Post

On January 1, 2019, California employers will begin implementing two important changes in their obligations to employees.  The first change should come as no surprise to employers – California’s minimum wage rate is increasing for 2019.  Indeed, the minimum wage has been increasing incrementally since 2017.  What may be unexpected is that beginning in 2019, Read more