MONTH-IN-BRIEF (Jun 2019)
Business Litigation
New York State Expands Prohibitions on Mandatory Arbitration in the Context of Workplace Harassment
By Leslie A. Berkoff, Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP
On the last day of its legislative session, June 19, 2019, the New York State Senate and Assembly passed sweeping reforms meant to overhaul the state’s antidiscrimination laws. (S6577/A8421). The legislation is an omnibus bill that amends different provisions of the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), the General Obligations Law, the Civil Practice Law and Rules, and the New York Labor Law. Together, these amendments provide for significant changes to New York’s already expansive workplace harassment laws. While the amendments were passed against the backdrop of the Legislature's focus on sexual harassment in the workplace, the amended laws will apply to all forms of workplace harassment cases. Governor Cuomo is expected to sign the amendments shortly.
The broad legislation enacts sweeping changes to sexual harassment laws previously passed. Among other things, it would lower the burden on plaintiffs seeking to prove claims of workplace harassment under the NYSHRL, extend the statute of limitations for bringing such claims, and expand potential damages for violations. Moreover, it explicitly further expands existing legislation impacting the use or commitment to arbitration to resolve related disputes.
