New York Reproductive Health Bias Law Requires Notice in Employee Handbooks

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has reinstated the New York Reproductive Health Bias Law’s requirement that New York State employers include a notice in their employee handbooks regarding the law’s prohibition on discrimination and retaliation based on employees’ or their dependent’s reproductive health care decisions. Specifically, the law prohibits discrimination based … Read more

EEOC Issues Guidance on Illegal DEI

On March 19, 2025, the Equal Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued two assistance documents providing guidance on illegal diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) in the workplace.  The two technical assistance documents are focused on educating the public about unlawful discrimination related to DEI in the workplace.  The EEOC acknowledged that DEI is a broad term that … Read more

New York Senate Passes Legislation Requiring Review and Revocation Period for All Severance Agreements

Recently, the New York Senate passed a bill which would enhance protections for all workers.  The No Severance Ultimatums Act would prohibit employers from delivering coercive severance ultimatums to employees and former employees reviewing severance agreements, and the goal is to provide employees ample time to review such agreements.  Specifically, the bill would require New … Read more

Key Provisions of President Trump’s DEI Executive Orders Blocked by Federal Court

In the days following his inauguration, President Trump issued a flurry of executive orders, several of which related to and restricted Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) programs within the federal government and for private employers.  A federal district court has now blocked several key provisions of those orders. On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed … Read more

Executive Order on Gender and How Private Employers Should React

On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government”.   The stated purpose of the Order is to defend women’s rights and protect freedom of conscience by using clear and accurate language and policies that recognize women are biologically female, and … Read more