Background
Effective November 18, 2019, under a newly amended New York State Human Rights Law, employers are required to provide a reasonable accommodation to employees who have been the victims of domestic violence. The new law also amends the definition of “victim of domestic violence” to align with the definition under the state’s Domestic Violence Prevention Act.
Summary
This new amended Human Rights Law provides employees a reasonable accommodation of leave for the
following purposes.
- To seek medical attention for themselves or a child;
- To obtain services from a domestic violence shelter, program, or rape crisis center;
- To obtain psychological counseling for themselves or a child;
- To take action to increase safety from domestic violence in the future, including relocating; or
- To obtain legal services, assist in the prosecution of the offense, or appear in court.
The new law requires employees to provide their employers with advance notice regarding the leave, when possible. Also, employees who are absent from work without advance notice must provide documentation for the need of an accommodation when requested by the employer.
As an employer, failing to provide this leave as a reasonable accommodation is an unlawful discriminatory practice, except if it would cause an undue hardship to the employer’s business, as defined by the law. The New York law defines an undue hardship as any leave accommodation that would cause significant difficulty or expense to the employer. New York employers may require employees to take this leave as an ordinary paid leave, if applicable, or as an unpaid leave, if the employee does not have any time available.
Next Steps for Employers
- Employers should update their employee handbooks with these new revisions to ensure compliance with the new law.
- Employers should also educate their managers and employees on how to handle a domestic violence situation that spills into the workplace and adopt an internal process for administering domestic violence leave.
- If you are a Full-Service or Virtual HR client and would like our assistance with updating your policy, please email us.
The People Simplifying HR
For almost twenty years, HR Knowledge has made it our mission to demystify the complex and daunting process of HR management. We do more than just provide the level of service and technology you’d expect from an industry leader.
We combine an unparalleled passion for service with our decades of HR, payroll, and benefits experience to provide our clients with personalized and actionable advice that is second—to—none.
From managed payroll to employee benefits to HR support, we can help your organization thrive, grow, and reduce operating costs — no matter what industry you serve. Whether you’re interested in our Full-Service solution or just need your employee handbook written, HR Knowledge can help you minimize risk while staying on top of compliance regulations.
The bottom line? We’re not just another cloud-based technology company that also does HR, #WeAreHR.
This content is provided with the understanding that HR Knowledge is not rendering legal advice. While every effort is made to provide current information, the law changes regularly and laws may vary depending on the state or municipality. The material is made available for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice or your professional judgment. You should review applicable laws in your jurisdiction and consult experienced counsel for legal advice. If you have any questions regarding this content, please contact HR Knowledge at 508.339.1300 or email us.
DOWNLOAD PDF