A few weeks ago, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a new toll-free confidential hotline for reporting sexual harassment at the workplace. The hotline, which will be administered by the New York State Department of Human Rights (NYSDHR), was authorized by legislation signed into law back in March. The hotline (1-800-HARASS-3) went…
Read More »Aside from the increasing municipal and county minimum wages, Chicago recently amended its sexual harassment laws and introduced new requirements effective July 1, 2022 on all employers in the Windy City. The expanded policy requires employers to have a written policy on sexual harassment that includes the following: statement that sexual harassment is illegal in…
Read More »As expected, President Biden last week signed into law the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021. The law, which went into effect immediately upon the President’s signature, amended the Federal Arbitration Act to prohibit mandatory arbitration in sexual assault and harassment cases, thereby allowing victims to bring their dispute…
Read More »Congress has passed legislation invalidating and rendering mandatory arbitration clauses unenforceable in cases relating sexual harassment or sexual assault disputes. With passage, the bill was sent to the White House where President Biden is expected to sign it into law. Once enacted, it will apply to “any dispute or claim that arises or accrues on…
Read More »As we get ready to close out the summer months, there are a number of dates approaching where new laws – or changes to existing laws – will become effective that you need to be aware of. We’ve previously advised you that effective September 1, the sexual harassment laws in the state of Texas will…
Read More »Pregnant workers in Arizona will see their civil rights expanded on July 19, when new changes to the Arizona Civil Rights Act take effect. Back in February, Governor Doug Doucey signed House Bill 2045, amending the Arizona Civil Rights Act to mirror existing protections under the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, which amended Title…
Read More »Aside from minimum wage increases, the calendar is replete with different changes on a seemingly monthly basis that you need to be aware of. Among these, we would point out that a change in employment law took effect yesterday in the Commonwealth of Virginia imposing a requirement that most employers must now include information in…
Read More »Connecticut small business owners – those with three or more employees – are cautioned that the extended deadline to complete sexual harassment training expires in just 10 days. The Times Up Act went into effect on October 1, 2019 requiring that all employees be provided two hours of training within their first six months of…
Read More »The minimum wage in Connecticut increased by $1 per hour on September 1 but we overlooked our note to remind our readers of the increase and we apologize for missing that opportunity. Coming next Thursday, October 1st however, Connecticut’s new anti-harassment requirement kicks in and we want you to be fully prepared. By that date,…
Read More »Early this week, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a decision extending anti-discrimination protections in the workplace to gay and trans-gender employees. In a 6-3 decision written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, the court confirmed that federal law protecting employees from harassment or discrimination on the basis of sex extends to include both…
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