To the people that live in work in New York City it can feel like NYC is its own world. And when it comes to employment protections it kind of is. While employees in New York City are protected under New York state and federal law, New York City also has unique employee protection laws that only apply to workers in the city.
What Are Some of New York City’s Employment Laws
Some of the unique employment laws that NYC has passed to protect the workers specially in the city are:
New York City’s Salary Transparency Act
New York City’s Salary Transparency Act is an amendment to the NYC Human Rights Law that requires employers to disclose the minimum and maximum salary for any job located in New York City. They must disclose this information on all job postings and advertisements as promotion or transfer opportunity announcements.
New York City Human Rights Law
The New York City Human Rights Law is a powerful tool that prohibits discrimination against protected classes in employment, housing, and public accommodation. This law says that employers can't discriminate against employees or job applicants based on:
- Age
- Immigration or citizenship status
- Color
- Disability
- Gender (including sexual harassment)
- Gender Identity
- Marital status and partnership status
- National origin
- Pregnancy and Lactation Accommodations
- Race
- Religion/Creed
- Sexual orientation
- Status as a Veteran or Active Military Service Member
- Arrest or conviction record
- Caregiver
- Credit history
- Pre-employment Marijuana Testing
- Unemployment status
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Decisions
- Salary History
- Status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses
New York City Minimum Wage
This law establishes a minimum wage for all jobs in New York City of $15 per hour.
NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) AI Bias Law
This new law established in 2023 prohibits employers in NYC from using AI to make employment decisions.
What Other Laws Protect NYC Employees
Workers in NYC are also protected by all NY employment protections and Federal workplace protections like:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act which prohibits discrimination against employees based on their race, gender, religion, or where they’re from.
- The Family Medical Leave Act which guarantees all workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a new child or a family member that is gravely ill.
- The Pregnancy Protection Act which mandates that employers give pregnant employees reasonable accommodations like not lifting items above a certain weight or giving them extra time off for medical care.
- The Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act which makes it illegal for employers to fire, retaliate against, demote, or in any way penalize a worker for pregnancy.
Get Help With Your NYC Employment Claim
If your workplace rights were violated by an employer in New York City you should speak with an employment attorney that specializes in New York and New York City employment law. Because NYC workers are protected by NYC laws as well as NY state and Federal law it’s a good idea to speak with an attorney to find out what your rights are before you submit a complaint against your employer. Fill the Free Case Evaluation to get connected with an independent, participating attorney who subscribes to the website and may be able to help with your case.
