Effective March 23, 2021 – New York Law Requires that Single-Occupancy Restrooms Be Gender Neutral

Effective March 23, 2021, existing single-occupancy bathrooms must remove any signage designating the bathroom as “male” or “female” and replace it with signage indicating it is open to people of all genders. The law does not require businesses or schools to build new gender-neutral, single-occupancy restrooms. New York employers that have establishments in public places, […]

New York State WARN Act Amended to Expand List of Entities that Must Receive Notice

On November 11, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation which amends the New York State Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (“NY WARN Act”) by expanding the list of governmental entities that must receive advance notice of a WARN-triggering event.  As you may be aware, the NY WARN Act requires covered businesses to provide 90 days […]

COBRA Notices Become Recent Target of ERISA Class Action Lawsuits

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”) enables employees and their dependents to extend health coverage under an employer’s group health plan when coverage would otherwise be lost due to termination of employment or other “qualifying events.” Under COBRA, employees must receive specific notices explaining their COBRA rights. Recently, there has been an increase of class action […]

New York City Commission on Human Rights Releases Model Lactation Accommodation Policies and Request Form

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on June 25, 2019 As you are aware, a pair of laws were passed and became effective March 2019, which require New York City employers with 4 or more employees to provide lactation accommodations, including a lactation room where employees can pump/express breast milk, and reasonable time to pump/express breast […]

NYC Passes Bills to Require Lactation Room and Accommodations

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on October 25, 2018 On October 17, 2018, the New York City Council passed the “Parental Empowerment” package of bills, which would require employers in New York City with 15 or more employees to provide a “lactation space” and “lactation accommodation” for employees who need to express and store […]

New York City Council Proposes Bill Which Would Allow Employees to Disconnect From Electronic Communications During Non-Work Hours

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on July 15, 2018 The New York City Council has proposed a bill which would amend the New York City charter and the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to private employees disconnecting from electronic communications during non-work hours. The bill would make it unlawful […]

New York State Court of Appeals Establishes Standard for Punitive Damages Under New York City Law

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on December 12, 2017 In Chauca v. Abraham, No. 113 (November 20, 2017), the New York State Court of Appeals established a lowered threshold for punitive damages under the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). In Chauca, an employee sued her former employer and two of her supervisors […]

New York State Releases Waiver and Voluntary Coverage Forms

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on October 19, 2017 The New York Workers’ Compensation Board recently released three important forms associated with Paid Family Leave (“PFL”), which will become effective January 1, 2018: Employee Paid Family Leave Opt-Out and Waiver of Benefits If an employee does not expect to work long enough to qualify […]