Effective today (September 3, 2015), the Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act (SCDEA) amends the NYC Human Rights Law (Title 8 of the NYC Administrative Code) to prohibit discrimination based on credit history. A New “Unlawful Discriminatory Practice” Specifically, the SCDEA adds a new section, § 8-107(24), to the NYCHRL. That section provides: (a) Except as…
Read More Credit History Discrimination Now Unlawful in New York CityOn June 29, 2015, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed law number 2015/063, a Local Law to amend the NYC Administrative code in relation to prohibiting discrimination based on one’s arrest record or criminal conviction. The amendments are reflected here (website URL here). The law, also known as the “Fair Chance Act“, was effectively designed to “ban the…
Read More NYC Law Amended to “Ban the Box” Pertaining to Arrest Record or Criminal ConvictionGovernor Cuomo recently signed legislation allowing New York City to lower the default speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. It will go into effect in three months. The purpose is to reduce the amount of injuries and death arising from motor vehicle accidents, particularly pedestrian knockdowns.
Read More New Law Makes NYC Speed Limit 25 MPHOn July 21, 2014, President Obama issued an Executive Order which grants protections to workers at federal contractors and in the federal government from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Read More President Obama Issues Executive Order Protecting LGBT Federal EmployeesLast week (July 2nd) marked the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII of the Act, beginning at section 2000e of Title 42 of the U.S. Code, provides, in part, that It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer – (1) to fail or refuse to hire…
Read More The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Turns 50Yesterday Mayor de Blasio signed legislation designed to protect interns from discrimination, including sexual harassment. The City Council passed the legislation last month, in the wake of a recent federal court decision, Wang v. Phoenix Satellite Television, which held that interns were not employees under, and hence were not entitled to the protections of, the New York City Human…
Read More Mayor de Blasio Signs Legislation Protecting Interns Against Employment Discrimination and Sexual HarassmentOn October 21, 2013, Governor Cuomo signed legislation designed to end exploitation of child models. The expressed purpose of the Bill, S5486-2013, is: To provide for and incorporate the protections covered under Article 4-A of the Labor Law and Article 35 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law which governs the conditions of employment and the education…
Read More New Law Extends Legal Protections to Child ModelsNew York State Senator Liz Krueger has introduced legislation (Bill No. S05951) that will “[p]rovide certain civil rights protections for interns.” It was motivated by a recent court decision, Wang v. Phoenix, which held that unpaid interns are not protected by the New York City Human Rights Law. (It is interesting that state intern-protection legislation would…
Read More State Senator Introduces Intern-Protective LegislationIn light of the recent Southern District decision that unpaid interns are not protected against sexual harassment under the New York City Human Rights Law, it appears that new legislation may be forthcoming. Specifically, according to a recent article, the New York City Council member Gale Brewer announced that she would propose legislation to extend…
Read More New Legislation to Protect Unpaid Interns?The New York City Council recently (and unanimously) passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which will broaden the New York City Human Rights Law to include enhanced protections for pregnant workers. (You can read more about the new legislation on the City Council’s website; Think Progress also summarizes it here.) The New York City Human Rights Law…
Read More New York City Council Passes “Pregnant Workers Fairness Act”