Happy New Year!
Recently, the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) – New York State’s primary anti-discrimination law – has been modified to strengthen employee protections. These changes, some occurring in 2019 and some occurring in 2020, are summarized at the New York State Division of Human Rights’ website, here.
These changes include:
- Effective January 1, 2020 (today), New York law provides that settlements of employment discrimination claims cannot prevent complainants from speaking to an attorney, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, local human rights commissions, or any other form of law enforcement.
- Effective February 8, 2020, the NYSHRL will apply to all employers within New York State, even those with fewer than four employees.
- Effective August 12, 2020, the one-year statute of limitations for filing with the Division will be extended to three years for sexual harassment in employment cases only.
Pospis Law continues its commitment to employ the NYSHRL, as well as federal and New York City law, to combat unlawful discrimination and fight for every penny of compensation to which discrimination victims are entitled.