New York: Expanded Workplace Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence

New York has enacted legislation that broadens the definition of “victim of domestic violence” in order to be consistent with the state’s Domestic Violence Protection Act. The New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) defines victims of domestic violence to include those over the age of 16, any married person, or any parent with a child in a situation where either the parent or child is a victim of a qualifying act by a family or household member in violation of the penal code (such as assault, harassment, sexual abuse, stalking, etc.). The qualifying act must result in, or create a substantial risk of, physical or emotional injury to the person or their minor child.