When nude pictures make their way onto the factory floor, or start to spread through the office chat system, it can easily turn a happy work day into an uncomfortable event. But is pornography at work sexual harassment? Can you report it without having to worry about retaliation? In this blog post I will review a complaint filed by the…
Imagine that you and your ex-partner work at the same business. When the two of you break up, he or she threatens to send explicit photos of you to your boss, coworkers, even the owner of the company. Then he or she starts making demands. Sadly, this is the reality for far too many New York workers. But now a…
Disabilities come in all severities, forms, and durations. But can a one-size-fits-all disability policy interfere with your ability to work or keep your job? Can a car accident or chronic health situation put your job at risk? Can you be forced to take leave for a...
When you report sexual harassment on the job, sometimes you take your career in your hands. W-2 employees can file a retaliation claim under gender discrimination laws through the EEOC or local authorities. But what about independent contractors or contract workers?...
When you think of gender discrimination, you most likely imagine a powerful man in a three-piece suit looking down on his female secretary. Or maybe you think of the hostile work environment created when pornography is found on the factory floor. But what about when...
Starting a business is hard for anyone. Entrepreneurs looking for start-up capital often face uphill battles convincing investors that their product or service is worth the risk. But sexual harassment in lending makes it even harder for women entrepreneurs to get from...
The definition of a worker is changing. As contract jobs become more common and the “gig economy” grows, more New Yorkers are finding themselves working, but not technically employees. Does this new status mean they lose out on the workplace protections of the state’s Human Rights Law? Or are there rules about the sexual harassment of independent contractors in the…
Disabilities come in all shapes, sizes, and severity. Sometimes accommodating for an employee’s disability requires special equipment or a flexible schedule. Other times, all that is needed is a chair. But employers sometimes refuse even the simplest requests, leading some workers to wonder if your employer can deny you a chair as a disability accommodation. In this blog post, I…
Distributing nude pictures of coworkers may be one of the most humiliating things a person can do to a fellow employee. Yet, the media has made news out of celebrities’ nude images going viral. That has prompted angry ex-partners to engage in “revenge porn” that hurts...
Not all sexual harassment involves sex. Unwanted comments and physical attention can make the workplace an uncomfortable place to be. When these seemingly minor offenses pile up and make a hostile work environment, it can leave you wondering, “Is hugging sexual harassment?” In this blog post I will discuss whether hugging is sexual harassment. I will review reports of Pixar…