December is an opportune time for employers to take stock of their policies and prepare for any compliance issues that might arise in the New Year. Accordingly, the following provides a summary of five key employment law issues facing New York employers in 2020.
Continued Compliance With #MeToo Movement Legislation
There have been significant legislative changes in New York aimed at combating sexual harassment in the workplace since the #MeToo movement first gained traction in late 2017. On April 12, 2018, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an omnibus anti-sexual harassment legislative package. Similarly, on May 8, 2018, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed the Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act, which imposed new requirements on employers relating to sexual harassment prevention. Most recently, on Aug. 12, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed legislation expanding workplace protections against sexual harassment. See Outside Counsel, Stacey Usiak and Andrew Yacyshyn, 5 Best Practices for NY Employers To Remain Complaint With Harassment Laws, NYLJ, Sept. 17, 2019, discussing the first wave of legislation, such as the employee training requirements. And in October 2019, New York state released updated FAQs to provide additional guidance on the new legislative requirements.
