New State Law Protects Immigrants in the Workplace

On July 27, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law an amendment to New York’s Labor Law providing added protection to immigrants in the workplace who report employer violations of the Labor Law, participate in related investigations with government agencies, or institute legal proceedings seeking damages as a result of the employer’s unlawful conduct. The amendment was originally proposed by the New York State Office of the Attorney General following their investigations of allegations that certain employers invoked federal immigration authorities as a threat to retaliate against workers who accused the employers of violating the Labor Law.

The amendment prohibits employers from using an employee’s suspected immigration or citizenship status, or the suspected immigration or citizenship status of an employee’s family or household member, to retaliate against the employee for engaging in the protected conduct.

A memorandum from Hinman Straub provides more details on this law, which takes effect Oct. 25, 2019.

Contact: Dan Heim, dheim@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866