5 Discrimination
As we wrote about last week, the New York City Council passed legislation seeking to bolster the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL).  Although the NYCHRL was already one of the most employee friendly statutes in the nation to begin with, especially in light of the 2005 Local Civil Rights Restoration Act, the legislature decided it was time to make New York City even friendlier to bring a discrimination claim.  

Mayor Bill de Blasio has now signed into law several amendments (five to be exact) that push the NYCHRL further, three expanding its employment discrimination protections, one with respect to public accommodation discrimination, and one regarding housing discrimination.

Int 814-2015 amends the NYCHRL to explicitly state that any and all exceptions and exemptions found in the statute must “be construed narrowly in order to maximize deterrence of discriminatory conduct.”  This new law also codifies directly into the NYCHRL three notable decisions that purportedly embody the NYCHRL’s broad protections: Bennett v. Health Management Systems, Inc., 92 A.D.3d 29 (1st Dep’t 2011); Albunio v. City of New York, 16 N.Y.3d 472 (2011); and Williams v. New York City Housing Authority, 61 A.D.3d 62 (1st Dep’t 2009).  This provision is effective immediately.
Int 818-2015 modifies the NYCHRL to now allow attorneys’ fees and expert fees in an administrative proceeding before the New York City Commission on Human Rights. This mimics the attorneys’ fees that were previously available to a prevailing plaintiff in a state or federal court action.  This provision is effective immediately.
Int 819-2015 repeals several NYCHRL provisions which previously interpreted and limited the reach of the law’s sexual orientation protections.  This new law eliminates various exceptions and clarifications in the NYCHRL that stated, among other things, that an employer could insist an employee meet a bona fide job-related qualification based on sexual orientation, an employer was not required (or allowed) to establish affirmative action quotas based on sexual orientation, and that an employer was not subject to the law if it employed fewer than four persons or was a religious, charitable, or educational institution operated, supervised, or controlled by a religious organization.  However, these prior exclusions have all been removed.  This provision is effective immediately.
Int 805-2015 expands the public accommodation protections under the NYCHRL to franchises, franchisees and lessors.  Moreover, this amendment states that businesses cannot deny full and equal enjoyment of all services, facilities, and/or privileges at public accommodations based on any protected characteristics.  Even more striking is the expansion of the prohibitions against discriminatory advertisements.  Any marketing language that indicates any individual is unwelcome, objectionable, not acceptable, undesired, or unsolicited because of such person’s actual or perceived protected characteristics, is now unlawful.  This provision is effective July 26, 2016.
Finally, Int 832-2015 amends the housing discrimination provisions in the NYCHRL to now preclude owners, lessors, managing agents, and real estate agents from discriminating against victims of domestic violence, sex offenses, and/or stalking.  This provision is effective July 26, 2016.
Links to the new enactments are provided above.  While an expanding NYCHRL is nothing new, employers should be continually wary and ensure they are prepared to deal with New York City’s uniquely protective employment and other discrimination laws.  Even one misstep may result in a discrimination claim that will be incredibly difficult to defend.  Remember, at least in New York City, this includes reviewing all language in advertisements or other marketing materials that could potentially run afoul of the expanded public accommodation protections.  We will of course keep you updated as these new provisions are interpreted by the courts.