N.Y. Expands Retaliation Protections for Harassment Claims

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation expanding the state’s anti-retaliation protections for people filing discrimination and sexual harassment claims.

The law, effective immediately, makes the public release of an employee’s personnel records grounds for a retaliation claim and gives the state’s attorney general authority to challenge such retaliation in court. An enforcement action can be initiated even before a violation occurs, if the attorney general believes it’s imminent.

The legislation -— part of a package of bills aimed at strengthening the state’s sexual harassment protections —- comes nearly 7 months after former Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned amid several ...