On October 23, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Brown v. Montefiore Health System found that a former Montefiore employee has sufficiently alleged race discrimination and hostile work environment claims, overturning a trial court ruling that had dismissed the case. The plaintiff, Brown, is a Black dietician who worked […]
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New York City Council Passes Pay Data Reporting Law For Private Employers
On October 9, 2025, the New York City Council passed Int. 982A/Int. 984A, which mandates that private employers with more than 200 employees working in the City report pay data for its employees. Employers will be required to submit anonymized pay data for employees broken down by occupation title, race, ethnicity, sex, and any other […]
Starbucks Case Shows Why Lactation Rights Matter at Work
For many employees returning from maternal leave, the transition back to work is not only physically demanding, but emotionally taxing. The period immediately after childbirth is one of recovery and adjustment, and yet, new mothers are often expected to resume their professional responsibilities without acknowledgment of the realities their bodies and families are still navigating. […]
Broad Definition of “Hiring Party” Under FIFA Strengthens Workers’ Wage Rights
Workers fighting for fair pay scored an important win when a federal judge ruled that Consolidated Edison (ConEd) can be held accountable as a “hiring party” under New York City’s Freelance Isn’t Free Act (FIFA) in Ortiz v. Consol. Edison Co. of N.Y., Inc., No. 1:22-cv-08957 (JLR) (GS) (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 24, 2025). This ruling establishes […]
Second Circuit Says EEOC Can Keep Investigating Even After a Lawsuit is Filed
On August 25, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in EEOC v. AAM Holding Corp. held that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) can continue investigating discrimination claims even after issuing a right-to-sue letter and the complainant filing their claim in court. The case arose from claims by dancers at adult entertainment […]
Arbitration Agreements Require Basic Fairness—Or They Won’t Be Enforced
Many employees believe that if they have signed an arbitration agreement, they have effectively released their ability to bring civil rights claims. But the law requires that arbitration be a fair and neutral process, and if the arbitration clause stacks the deck too far in favor of the employer, courts can refuse to enforce it. […]
LA’s Hotel and Airport Worker Minimum Wage Increase Suspended Indefinitely
On July 23, 2025, a press release from the city clerk of Los Angeles, California announced that Ordinance 188610, enacted in May 2025 to increase the minimum wage for hotel and airport workers, is being suspended indefinitely while a referendum against the law is under review. Ordinance 188610 contains scheduled minimum wage increases to take […]
Fired or Treated Unfairly After Requesting Family Leave? You May Have a Legal Claim
If you’ve been punished at work for taking—or even just requesting—paternity or maternity leave, you should know that what happened to you may be illegal. A recent decision from a Brooklyn court demonstrates how New York law protects workers who are caregivers or new parents from unequal treatment in the workplace. In Naulla v. WrkArt […]
Supreme Court Levels the Field for Civil Rights Plaintiffs Under Title VII
In a decision with important implications for civil rights plaintiffs, the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a judicially created doctrine that made it harder for some people to sue under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The case, Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, focused on a rule that a number of […]
NYC’s Taxi & Limousine Commission Approves Minimum Pay Hike and Lockout Protections for Rideshare Drivers
On June 25, 2025, the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) voted to raise minimum pay standards for drivers in “high-volume for-hire services,” including Uber and Lyft, by 5%. The TLC also adopted new regulations to curb the use of “lockouts” within the apps that prevent drivers from logging into the platforms mid-shift. […]
Judge Vacates Abortion Accommodations in EEOC Rule
On May 21, 2025, a federal judge in Louisiana ordered the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to remove mandates in its Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) rules that provided reasonable accommodations to employees who underwent abortion procedures. The PWFA requires covered employers to provide a “‘reasonable accommodation’ to a qualified employee’s or applicant’s […]
New York Court Interpreters’ Pay Bias Suit Fails
On May 22, 2025, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit declined to reinstate a case alleging that the New York court system discriminates against court interpreters by paying them less because they are foreign-born. The state court system was first sued in May 2022, alleging that despite having specialized skills, court interpreters make […]
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