Domestic Violence
As of January 15, 2001, the New York City
Human Rights Law was finally amended
to protect survivors of domestic violence,
sex offenses or stalking from
discrimination in employment. This is
good news and long overdue. Survivors of
domestic violence face a variety of
challenges in the workplace. Studies have
shown that there is a clear adverse impact
upon the survivor of domestic violence with regard to her ability to maintain
and establish financial independence. Some of the issues domestic violence
survivors encounter in the workplace include:
* Demotion
* Suspension
* Loss of pay and/or benefits
* Termination
Often, survivors of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking are demoted or
terminated simply for requesting that protective measures be taken in order to
ensure their safety. Some of these protective measures include asking for time
off or flexible hours to meet with district attorneys or domestic violence
counselors, as well as for obtaining orders of protection and medical services for
themselves and/or members of their family.
Under the amendment to this anti-discrimination law, it is now unlawful in New
York City to discriminate against an individual or to treat that person differently
at work as a result of their status as a victim of domestic violence or as a result
of the employer's perception that the individual is a victim of domestic violence,
sex offenses and/or stalking.
This law now states:
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for an employer, or an agent
thereof, to refuse to hire or employ or to bar or to discharge from employment,
or to discriminate against an individual in compensation or other terms,
conditions, or privileges of employment because of the actual or perceived
status of said individual as a victim of domestic violence.
Please click here to view Tuckner Sipser's Domestic Violence and Employment
Please visit our Media Center to review the firm’s historic involvement with the
advancement of NY’s ground-breaking workplace domestic violence law.
