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New York City has outlawed discrimination based on height and weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Effective on November 22, 2023, the new law amends the New York City Human Rights Law to protect people who experienced height and weight discrimination similar to how the law would protect someone who experienced other kinds of…
Category Archives: Uncategorized
New National Labor Relations Board Guidance to Ensure Immigrants Have Access to Worker Protections
On May 2, 2022, National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo released new guidance to ensure immigrant workers are protected under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to freely exercise their rights to organize and take action to improve their working conditions. The guidance instructs regional NLRB offices to distribute information and advise witnesses…
New York Employers Must Let Their Workers Know if They Plan to Monitor Their Calls, Emails, and Internet Use
On November 8, 2021, Governor Hochul signed a bill ( A.430/S.2628 ) that requires employers to let their employees know if the employer plans to monitor their phone calls, emails, or internet use. This bill covers “any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, or association with a place of business in [New York]” but does not cover…
How Does New York’s Legalization of Marijuana Affect Your Rights at Work? Labor Department Clarifies Interactions with Workplace Issues
On March 31, 2021, New York State enacted the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) which legalizes adult-use cannabis in New York. Recently, the New York State Department of Labor issued guidance to address common situations and questions relating to the legalization of adult-use cannabis and its effects on the workplace. MRTA prohibits employers from…
A Win for NYC Food Delivery Workers
On September 23, 2021, the New York City Council voted to pass a group of bills that guarantees various rights to food delivery workers who work for apps like Grubhub, Uber Eats, Relay, and DoorDash bringing food throughout the city. The new laws make sure that the delivery workers have bathroom access, minimum pay, and…
Pamela Jeffrey Named 2022 Labor Lawyer of the Year by Peer Nominated Best Lawyers
Levy Ratner is proud to announce that Pamela Jeffrey was named 2022 Labor Lawyer of the Year by peer-nominated Best Lawyers. Pam has had an illustrious career representing unions and employees in the robust exercise of their rights in organizing, collective bargaining, strikes and picketing, litigation, arbitrations and before the NLRB. Congratulations also to Levy…
IRS Announces that COVID-19 Face Masks and Hand Sanitizer Are Tax Deductible
On March 26, 2020, the IRS announced that the amounts you paid to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect against the spread of COVID-19, such as face masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes are eligible to be deducted as medical expenses on your 2020 tax return. The IRS advises that taxpayers may be eligible…
OSHA Releases New COVID-19 Workplace Safety Guidance
On January 29, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released new guidance on best practices to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. This guidance follows President Biden’s January 21, 2021 Executive Order calling for OSHA to issue new COVID-19-related workplace safety guidance. Looking ahead, the EO also called for…
Black History Month
This Black History Month we pause to recognize Black women as recent and historic key players in the U.S. political process. We celebrate the election of the first Black and South Asian woman to Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris. We also celebrate the commitment and systematic organizing spearheaded, most notably by Stacey…