On August 29, 2018, Delaware Governor John Carney signed into law a bill (HB 360) addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. The new law broadly prohibits sexual harassment and retaliation, and imposes training and notice obligations on employers.
Illinois recently enacted legislation that extends the filing period for charges under the Illinois Human Rights Act, simplifies certain procedures, and aims to ameliorate administrative inefficiencies.
On August 23, 2018, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order that contains a model policy, model complaint form, and model training in accordance with the state’s new sexual harassment law.
The OFCCP has issued a new directive instructing staff to take into account in their affirmative action and equal employment opportunity enforcement activities recent opinions and executive orders addressing religious freedoms.
On August 10, 2018, the New York City Commission on Human Rights published an English-language workplace poster that must be displayed by all New York City employers beginning on September 6, 2018, along with a fact sheet for employees.
With the growth of the Alt-Right and other hate groups, business owners face increased challenges to uphold values of diversity, ensure employee and customer safety, and protect their brand from association with customers’ possible bigotry.
On July 18, 2018, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 2282, the Fair Pay Act Bill, which takes effect on January 1, 2019, and clarifies the application of California’s Equal Pay Act.
Given the risks inherent in the food and hospitality industries, as well as the spotlight #MeToo has shone on different industries’ policies and practices, food and hospitality employers should pay particular attention to harassment complaints.
