Article 15 of the New York Executive Law (Sections 290-297), commonly known as the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), provides broad protections against discrimination and unfair treatment at work.
Scope of Protection
The law safeguards workers from mistreatment based on who they are. This includes their age, race, faith, skin color, where they’re from, gender, who they love, how they express their gender, disabilities, pregnancy, marital status, military service, family situation, experience with domestic violence, genetic makeup, and – with some limits – their criminal history or arrests.
What Employers Must Do (and Not Do)
Bosses can’t refuse to hire someone, hold them back from promotions, or fire them because of these protected characteristics. They also can’t harass workers or get back at them for speaking up about discrimination. The days of making people take medical tests before hiring them are gone unless the job specifically requires it.
Who’s Covered
Since 2019, the law has protected almost everyone – even if you work for a tiny company with just one employee. Independent contractors, interns, and job applicants also get these protections.
Special Focus on Sexual Harassment
Employers must write down their rules against sexual harassment and train their workers about it once a year. They can’t let anyone get away with creating a hostile workplace or trying to trade job benefits for sexual favors.
Reasonable Changes
Employers have to make sensible adjustments for workers who:
- Have disabilities
- Are you pregnant or dealing with pregnancy-related health issues
- Need to practice their religion
- Speaking Up
If someone messes with you for filing a complaint or helping with an investigation, that’s against the law, too.
What To Do If Your Rights Are Violated
You’ve got options. You can either:
- Tell the NY State Division of Human Rights within a year or
- Please take it to state court within three years
If you win your case, you might get:
- The pay you lost
- Money for emotional distress
- Extra punishment money in horrible cases
- Your job back
- The other side might have to pay your lawyer fees
Bottom Line: New York takes workplace fairness seriously. This law puts real muscle behind protecting workers while giving employers clear rules.
