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Employee Rights Lawyer - New York | Bell Law Group

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If you were discriminated against or otherwise wronged by your employer, contact a New York employee rights lawyer from Bell Law Group.

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The Federal Hiring Freeze: What Employees and Job Applicants Need to Know

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The Federal Hiring Freeze: What Employees and Job Applicants Need to Know

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The Federal Hiring Freeze: What Employees and Job Applicants Need to Know | Bell Law Group

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Our federal employment lawyers explain what federal employees and job applicants need to know about President Trump’s “Hiring Freeze” memorandum.

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New York Employer 2025 Checklist: Top 10 Changes to Know This January

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New York Employer 2025 Checklist: Top 10 Changes to Know This January

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Kimberly Franko, Danielle Gibbons, Autumn Sharp, Suzanne Van Arsdall

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New York Employer 2025 Checklist: Top 10 Changes to Know This January

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From the groundbreaking mandate for paid prenatal leave to the upcoming requirement that employers disclose AI-related layoffs, 2025 is set to be a

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Website: https://www.belllg.com/areas-served/staten-island/

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Syosset, NY 11791

Phone: 516-280-3008

Website: https://www.belllg.com/areas-served/long-island/

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Phone: 518-690-6774

Website: https://www.belllg.com/areas-served/albany/

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Rights at Work Enforced by Other Agencies

This section highlights important City, State, and federal labor laws that protect employees. It also highlights NYC anti-discrimination worker protections that cover many kinds of workers, including independent contractors.

Note: It is not exhaustive and does not constitute legal advice.

Minimum Wage and Hour Rights

Your employer must:

Under State and City laws, contractors must meet higher minimum pay and benefits requirements for workers under certain public work contracts and certain private projects receiving public funding or tax benefits.

For more information or to file a complaint, contact:

New York State Department of Labor
dol.ny.gov (search "prevailing wage") | 888-469-7365

New York City Comptroller
comptroller.nyc.gov (search "prevailing wage") | 212-669-3916

Family and Medical Leave Act

Employers with 50 or more employees must provide eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid family and medical leave.

For more information or to file a complaint, contact:

Workers' Compensation and Disability Benefits

You have the right to cash benefits and/or medical care if you become ill or injured as a direct result of your job.

Your employer must also provide temporary disability benefits for off-the-job injuries or illnesses, including pregnancy- or delivery-related disabilities.

For more information or to file a complaint, contact:

Forced labor, also known as human trafficking, is a serious crime. Victims work against their will because of force, fraud, or coercion.

For more information or to get help, contact:

National Human Trafficking Hotline
(U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children & Families)
888-373-7888 (24 hours, 7 days a week)

New York State Department of Labor Division of Immigrant Policies and Affairs
877-466-9757 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

There is a form of immigration relief called the T visa available to certain survivors of trafficking.

For more information or to get help, contact:

Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs Immigration Legal Support Hotline
800-354-0365 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Safe and Healthy Workplace

Your workplace must be free of health and safety hazards. You also have the right to receive information and training about job hazards.

For more information or to file a complaint, contact:

You have the right to create a workplace safety committee of workers and managers to address workplace safety issues.

For more information or to file a complaint, contact:

New York State Department of Labor
dol.ny.gov (search " HERO Act ") | 888-469-7365

Discrimination-free Workplace

City, State, and federal laws prohibit sexual harassment and employment discrimination. The NYC anti-discrimination law covers employees, independent contractors, interns, and job applicants.

In NYC, it is illegal for employers to discriminate based on protected categories, including but not limited to:

age

conviction history (in many cases)

disability

gender

immigration or citizenship status

national origin

pregnancy

race

religion

sexual orientation

Reasonable Accommodation
Employers in NYC must provide reasonable accommodations in the workplace based on:

disability (physical or mental)

pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding

religious observance

status as victim of domestic violence (including economic abuse), sexual violence, or stalking

Reasonable accommodations can include a change to a work schedule, duties, and/or equipment.

For more information or to file a complaint, contact:

You have the right to equal pay for equal work and to discuss your pay with your coworkers.

For more information or to file a complaint, contact:

You can join together with your coworkers to improve your working conditions, including organizing a union. Employers can't take action against you for organizing or talking with your coworkers about working conditions.

For more information or to file a complaint, contact:

National Labor Relations Board
nlrb.gov │844-762-NLRB (844-762-6572)

Your employer must carry unemployment insurance which provides temporary income, up to 26 weeks, if you lose your job through no fault of your own and are actively seeking work. You must have legal authorization to work to qualify for unemployment benefits.

For more information, contact:

If your employer offers health insurance, you may have the right to continue health benefits when you lose coverage or change jobs.

For more information, contact:

Correct Worker Classification (Employee or Independent Contractor)

Many worker rights only apply to workers who are classified as employees.

Whether or not you are an employee or an independent contractor depends on several factors and the nature of your work arrangement.

Misclassification occurs when employers treat workers who should be considered employees as independent contractors or pay workers "off the books" without paying taxes. Misclassification denies workers their rights and benefits as employees.

For more information or to report misclassification, contact:

This section highlights important City, State, and federal laws.

Note: It is not exhaustive and does not constitute legal advice.

The City offers free help for jobseekers who have legal authorization to work. Contact the NYC Department of Small Business Services to learn about Workforce1 Career Centers:

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DCWP - Workers - Workers Rights - Know Your Rights

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Rights at Work Enforced by Other Agencies This section highlights important City, State, and federal labor laws that protect employees. It also highlights NYC anti-discrimination worker protections that cover many kinds of workers, including independent contractors. Note: It is not exhaustive and does not constitute legal advice.

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New York Discrimination Lawyer | Bell Law Group

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Were you discriminated against in the workplace? Contact a New York discrimination lawyer from Bell Law Group for justice.

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What is needed to establish a sexual harassment case?

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What is needed to establish a sexual harassment case?

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What is needed to establish a sexual harassment case?

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What You Should Know About Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

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What You Should Know About Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

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What You Should Know About Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

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Title VII, one of the laws that the Employment Litigation Section enforces, prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace.

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How to Document Harassment in the Workplace

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How to Document Harassment in the Workplace

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How to Document Harassment in the Workplace | Bell Law Group

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Learn how employees can document sexual harassment at work from an experienced New York workplace harassment lawyer at Bell Law Group.

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What damages are recoverable in the EEOC?

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What damages are recoverable in the EEOC?

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What damages are recoverable in the EEOC?

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Disability Rights: The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Human Rights Law

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Disability Rights: The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Human Rights Law

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Disability Rights: The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Human Rights Law

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July 2020 marked the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark federal legislation that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all aspects of public life. Since the passage of the ADA, governments around the world have sanctioned similar laws that ensure people with disabilities have rights and accessibility to resources that support personal growth, independence, and expanded opportunities.

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): What Employees and Job Applicants in New York Need to Know

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): What Employees and Job Applicants in New York Need to Know

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): What Employees and Job Applicants in New York Need to Know | Bell Law Group

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Learn what employees and job applicants need to know about their rights under the ADA from the New York disability discrimination attorneys at Bell Law Group.

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The DOJ has been firing judges with immigrant defense backgrounds

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The DOJ has been firing judges with immigrant defense backgrounds

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The DOJ has been firing judges with immigrant defense backgrounds

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NPR’s data analysis shows that the DOJ has tended to fire judges with immigrant defense backgrounds in its recent rounds of dismissals.

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Can I Be Fired Because of My Immigration Status in New York?

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Can I Be Fired Because of My Immigration Status in New York?

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Can I Be Fired Because of My Immigration Status in New York? | Bell Law Group

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Learn what you need to know if you were fired because of your immigration status from the experienced New York employment lawyers at Bell Law Group.