Archives: Harassment

Under the POWR Act, Colorado Workplace Harassment Law Departs from Federal Standards

By Nathan A. Schacht and Alexis Opper on July 12, 2023 Posted in Harassment

In the next two months, significant changes are coming to Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act, otherwise known as CADA. The Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights (POWR) Act creates a new, lower standard for workplace harassment, in addition to limiting the enforceability of nondisclosure agreements and creating new recordkeeping obligations for employers. The POWR Act was signed by … Continue Reading

New Chicago Sexual Harassment Prevention Requirements Go Into Effect

By Bonnie Keane DelGobbo on July 14, 2022 Posted in Harassment

Chicago’s new sexual harassment prevention ordinance went into effect this month, imposing significant new obligations on Chicago employers. The ordinance requires employers to have a written policy prohibiting sexual harassment that includes an expanded definition of sexual harassment, a statement that sexual harassment and retaliation for reporting sexual harassment are illegal in Chicago, examples of … Continue Reading

You Think #MeToo Is Over? Think Again.

By Amanda Van Hoose Garofalo on February 15, 2022 Posted in Harassment

On Feb. 10, 2022, the Senate passed HR 4445, which, upon President Joe Biden’s expected signature, will amend the Federal Arbitration Act to allow an individual who is alleging sexual harassment or a sexual assault to elect to bring their claims to court, notwithstanding an arbitration agreement to the contrary. The amendment will be effective … Continue Reading

Only Two Weeks Remaining for Connecticut Employers to Meet Their Sexual Harassment Training Requirements

By Priya Amin on April 6, 2021 Posted in Harassment

The Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) recently extended the deadline for employers to complete sexual harassment training as required under the Time’s Up Act (the Act). Employers are not required to request this extension; it is a blanket extension to April 19, 2021*. The Act, which went into effect on Oct. 1, … Continue Reading

UPDATE: New York State Expected to Vastly Overhaul Harassment/Discrimination Laws Again

By Amanda Van Hoose Garofalo on August 14, 2019 Posted in Discrimination, Harassment, New York

As we reported in our blog post, and our summer newsletter, in late June, the New York Legislature passed a bill that vastly changed the discrimination and harassment landscape for employers. Today, Gov. Cuomo signed that bill into law. As a result, employers likely now need to change their New York state-required anti-harassment policies and training. … Continue Reading

New York State Expected to Vastly Overhaul Harassment/Discrimination Laws Again

By Amanda Van Hoose Garofalo on June 21, 2019 Posted in Discrimination, Harassment, New York

Late on June 19, New York lawmakers passed a bill that makes wide-sweeping changes to New York State discrimination and harassment law. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has indicated that he will sign the bill, but he has not done so at this point. The bill implements changes related to the construction, definitions, proofs, affirmative defenses, policies … Continue Reading

Panic Buttons for New Jersey Hotel Housekeepers

By Amanda Van Hoose Garofalo on June 12, 2019 Posted in Harassment, New Jersey

On June 11, Gov. Phil Murphy, D-N.J., signed into law legislation that will require hotels that have 100 or more guest rooms to provide their housekeepers and room service employees with panic buttons effective January 2020. Panic buttons have gained widespread attention as a result of the #MeToo movement – the idea being that a … Continue Reading

NYC Releases Anti-Harassment Training Video

By Amanda Van Hoose Garofalo and Amy J. Traub on April 16, 2019 Posted in Harassment, New York

As discussed in our New York Quarterly Newsletters, employers in New York City who have 15 or more employees (inclusive of independent contractors) are required to provide anti-sexual harassment training on or before December 31, 2019 to all employees who work in New York City (this includes employees who only work part time in New … Continue Reading

New York State Sexual Harassment Guidance Finalized

By Amanda Van Hoose Garofalo and Amy J. Traub on October 2, 2018 Posted in Harassment, New York

UPDATE – On Oct. 1, 2018, the state of New York released final guidance on the anti-sexual harassment measures that were passed in the 2018-2019 New York state budget. Perhaps the most important (and welcomed) change in the guidance is that employers now have until Oct. 9, 2019, to provide employees with the mandated training.… Continue Reading

New York State Issues Guidance for Compliance with New Sexual Harassment Law

By Shawn Butte and Amy J. Traub on August 28, 2018 Posted in Harassment, New York

Earlier this year, Gov. Cuomo signed into law the 2018-2019 New York State Budget, which included new requirements for both private and government employers intended to combat sexual harassment in the workplace. As reported in our previous post, the new law mandates that starting October 9, 2018, all New York employers must adopt a sexual … Continue Reading

Budget Bill Imposes Sweeping Requirements on Employers Related to Sexual Harassment

By Amanda Van Hoose Garofalo on April 23, 2018 Posted in DOL, Harassment

The #MeToo movement is not finished making waves just yet. Governor Cuomo signed a 2019 Budget Bill on April 12, 2018, but the bill did not limit itself to budgetary issues. Instead, it included sweeping revisions to several statutes, resulting in several new requirements for employers doing business in New York State: Anti-Sexual Harassment Policies … Continue Reading

Walking in a Winter Litigation Wonderland: Top Employment Mistakes to Avoid at Your Company Holiday Party

By Amy J. Traub and Mackenna Mosier on December 11, 2013 Posted in Discrimination, Harassment, Holidays

As 2013 draws to a close, attentions turn to the festivities and merriment of the holiday season, and many employers gear up for office holiday parties. A holiday party is a great way to reward employees for a long year’s work, encourage employees to mingle with coworkers outside of their immediate work groups, and set … Continue Reading

Interns and Anti-Discrimination Laws: Is Wang Employers’ High-Water Mark?

By Pat Muldowney on October 21, 2013 Posted in Harassment, New York, Retaliation

So you may have heard — a federal court in New York has dismissed an unpaid intern’s hostile work environment sexual harassment claim against a media company pursuant to the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”). (Wang v. Phoenix Satellite Television US, Inc., Case No. 1:13-cv-00218-PKC (S.D.N.Y. 2013).) In granting the defendant’s motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s … Continue Reading