When lawmakers in New York passed the state's Human Rights Law, they extended workplace protections provided by the Civil Rights Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. While workers across the United States are protected against harassment or discrimination in the workplace based on their gender, age, race, religion or national origin, employees in the Empire State are also protected against unfair treatment based on such factors as their criminal arrest record, military status, sexual orientation, marriage status and domestic violence victim status.
Employers can be held responsible for violating workplace discrimination laws when they allow an environment to develop that would be considered offensive, hostile or intimidating by a reasonable person. Petty inconveniences or minor annoyances would not be enough to meet this standard. Examples of workplace behavior that may support a discrimination or harassment claim include displays of pornography or other offensive material, physical assault or intimidation, unwelcome sexual advances, ridicule and abusive language.