Today, Governor Cuomo signed into the law the Women’s Equality Act, which includes several provisions that significantly expand the employment rights of women.

The Act takes effect in 90 days and

1. Strengthens New York State’s Equal Pay law by outlawing wage secrecy policies, makes it more difficult for employers to defend discriminatory policies and increases damages to up to 300% of the wage differential.
2. Extends the prohibition on sexual harassment to workplaces with fewer that four employees.
3. Allows successful sex discrimination litigants to have their attorney fees paid.
4. Outlaws discrimination against parents in the workplace.
5. Requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation for pregnant workers.

Over the next few days, we’ll be blogging about each of these important victories.