Federal and state law prohibit New York employers from discriminating against employees based on certain characteristics, such as race or religion. (To learn more, see our page on employment discrimination and harassment.)
In all 50 states, federal law makes it illegal to discriminate based on:
In addition, the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), which applies to all employers, prohibits discrimination based on:
Several cities in the U.S. have their own laws protecting additional characteristics or extending protection to more employees. For example, in New York City, it is illegal to discriminate based on certain other categories, including:
Employers with 15 or more employees are covered by federal antidiscrimination laws, with the following exceptions:
The state of New York's antidiscrimination law applies to all employers.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the federal agency that regulates workplace discrimination. You can contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by calling 800-669-4000 or check out its website. The website will help you locate an EEOC field office in New York. (For more information, see our article on how to file an EEOC claim.)
The Division of Human Rights enforces state antidiscrimination law in New York. You can contact the Division of Human Rights at 718-741-8400.
If you've been the victim of workplace discrimination or retaliation in New York, contact an experienced employment law attorney to discuss your legal options.