Victims of Domestic Violence Protected Under NY Law
New York State Human Rights Law Section 296, which applies to employers with at least four (4) employees, prohibits workplace discrimination in hiring and employment practices on the basis of certain “protected classes.”
On July 7, 2009, Governor David Paterson signed into law new legislation which adds victims of domestic violence to the list of protected classes under the New York State Human Rights Law. A victim of domestic violence is any individual subjected to a “family offense,” as defined under Section 812(1) of the New York Family Court Act. Family offenses include disorderly conduct, harassment, stalking, criminal mischief, menacing, reckless endangerment, assault or attempted assault between spouses or former spouses, between parent and child, or between members of the same family or household.
NYSHRL Section 296 also prohibits discrimination in hiring and employment practices on the basis of race and color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, military status, arrest or conviction record and predisposing genetic characteristics.