New York City Employment Discrimination Lawyers

Not since the late 1870's has New York City's population been as incredibly diverse as it is today. Unfortunately, not all employers appreciate this diversity and unfairly discriminate against workers and employees in their employment.

Victims of employment discrimination in New York City have rights. New York City has passed its own anti-discrimination law, the New York City Human Rights Law, which prohibits employment discrimination in the City of New York. In many ways, the New York City Human Rights Law provides stronger protections than similar federal or state laws. To determine whether you are protected under New York City law, contact an employment discrimination attorney at Cary Kane LLP. The law firm is dedicated to protecting employee rights.

Protected Classes

Like its federal and state counterparts, the New York City Human Rights Law prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, creed, age, national origin, sex (including sexual harassment), and disability. The New York City Human Rights Law also protects certain categories not covered by other laws, including sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or partnership status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses. The law also provides a broader definition for certain categories. For example: Discrimination based on gender also includes discrimination based on gender identity. In addition, the New York City Human Rights Law's definition of "disability" is significantly more inclusive than the definition under Federal or State Law.

Covered Employers

The New York City Human Rights Law applies to any employer who employs four or more employees. This provides wider coverage than Federal Law, which only applies to employers with fifteen or more employees.

Construction of the Law

The New York City Human Rights Law explicitly states that it is to be liberally construed and that the law is not to be narrowed by more restrictive interpretations of federal or state law. In some cases, courts applying the New York City Human Rights law have found that conduct not protected under federal or state law is in fact protected by the City law.

Reasonable Accommodations

Employers must allow accommodations for certain workers. Most notably, employers must make reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities so long as such accommodations do not result in an undue hardship on the employer's business. Employers must also make accommodations to employees for religious observance, including the observance of the Sabbath or of Holy Days (although the employer does not have to pay for this time off and may require that the employee make up the time at a later date).

Overall, the New York City Human Rights Law can provide a powerful tool to remedy employment discrimination in New York City. Discrimination can be difficult to prove, however, and you should consult with counsel to determine what your rights are under the law. If you believe you have a claim under New York City law, contact an employment discrimination attorney at Cary Kane LLP for a consultation to discuss your situation.