The coronavirus outbreak is having a dramatic effect on work throughout the country, and in particular, here in New York. Kessler Matura wants to make sure you are aware of your employment rights. We have prepared a fact sheet explaining how federal, state, and local...
Employee Rights
Gender discrimination in the workplace, by the numbers
The Pew Research Center recently released data on gender discrimination in the workplace. The release comes at an interesting time - a time when politicians and various members of the Hollywood elite are facing accusations of sexual harassment. The findings pose a bit...
What qualifies as a hostile work environment?
What is the actual difference between having a lousy job and working in a "hostile work environment"?The meaning of hostile work environment is vague, but it comes from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which made different kinds of discrimination illegal. A...
Commonly Overlooked Elements of Employment Contracts
When individuals debate whether to sign a new employment contract, it can be tempting to focus on salary above all else. This instinct is understandable because salary plays an important role in any worker’s overall livelihood and ability to support a...
Appellate ruling regarding the Dodd-Frank Act
Workers in New York who are considering reporting wrongdoings by their employer may be interested to know that a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has broaden the scope of the Dodd-Frank Act. The ruling, which was issued on March 8, 2017,...
EEOC reports rise in disability discrimination claims
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, disability discrimination claims increased in 2016, and it appears to be part of an overall trend. However, this may not be due to an actual increase in discrimination. It is possible that employees in New York...
Whistleblower policies in employment contracts
New York employees who notice something unethical or illegal going on at their workplace may want to alert the public about what they know. When an employee brings a concern to the public's attention, this is referred to as whistleblowing. Though whistleblowers may...
Some federal contractors affected by new ruling for sick leave
As New York federal contractors and subcontractors may know, a final rule was implemented in September by the Department of Labor. It provides a certain number of days of paid sick leave for employees and eligibility changes starting in 2017. Reasons for taking paid...
Another ERISA lawsuit filed against Wells Fargo
New Yorkers who have been following the ongoing reports about Wells Fargo might be interested in learning that a third lawsuit has been filed against the company for falling stock values. The ERISA lawsuit is seeking class-action certification and was filed in the...
The EEOC and retaliation
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued guidelines covering companies in New York and around the country concerning retaliation claims. This is the first set of guidelines published by the EEOC regarding this type of employment complaint since 1998. In...
