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Employees returning from protected maternity leave generally have the right to return to their previous job or an equivalent or comparable position. That does not always mean the exact assignment you had before leave, but an employer cannot use maternity leave as a reason to demote you, cut your pay, or...

Employees in Westchester County have the right to pray during the workday when doing so can be reasonably accommodated without creating an undue hardship for your employer. Federal and New York laws protect employees from religious discrimination and may require employers to make workplace adjustments for sincerely held religious practices. However,...

Your employer generally cannot fire you because you disclosed a disability or because you requested a reasonable accommodation for a qualifying condition. However, disclosing an illness or disability does not prevent an employer from terminating you for legitimate, unrelated reasons. For employees in Westchester County, the key question is often why the...

Your first consultation with an employment attorney is an opportunity to understand your legal rights, evaluate the strength of your case, and decide on the best path forward. Coming prepared with the right questions can help you make the most of the meeting and leave with a clearer understanding of your...

New York gives victims of discrimination and retaliation 3 years to file, but a federal charge can still expire in as little as 300 days. Knowing which clock is running is the difference between a case and a missed deadline. If you believe you were...

Employees in New York are protected from retaliation when they report workplace conduct they reasonably believe violates the law. Under New York Labor Law Section 740, employers generally cannot fire, discipline, demote, or otherwise punish workers for certain whistleblowing activities. These protections apply to many employees throughout Westchester County and can...

Not every layoff is purely about budget cuts or restructuring. In some situations, an employer may use a layoff as cover for unlawful discrimination based on age, race, gender, disability, pregnancy, or another protected characteristic. Employees in Westchester County who notice suspicious patterns surrounding a layoff may have legal rights worth...

Employees who take protected leave are generally entitled to return to their jobs without retaliation or punishment. If an employer terminates an employee shortly after medical leave, family leave, pregnancy leave, utilizing sick time, or another legally protected absence, the termination may be unlawful. In Westchester County, employees may have legal...

A difficult workplace is not always illegal, but repeated harassment, discrimination, or intimidation tied to a protected characteristic can create a hostile work environment under New York law. Warning signs may include ongoing offensive comments, targeting by supervisors or coworkers, retaliation after complaints, or workplace conduct that interferes with your ability...

A negative performance review is not automatically illegal. Employers in New York can critique performance, issue disciplinary write-ups, and evaluate employees honestly. However, when a poor review appears shortly after you report discrimination, request medical leave, complain about harassment or other unlawful conduct, or participate in a workplace investigation, it may be...

Workplace retaliation often begins shortly after an employee speaks up about something unlawful or inappropriate at work. You may notice sudden disciplinary action, exclusion from projects, negative performance reviews, schedule changes, or increased scrutiny that did not exist before. While not every workplace conflict is illegal retaliation, noticeable changes in treatment...

New York Paid Family Leave (PFL) provides eligible employees with paid, job-protected time off to care for family members or handle certain personal situations. In most cases, workers can take up to 12 weeks of leave while receiving a percentage of their wages. Understanding how the program works can help you...