December 03, 2020

New York City Actions on Age Discrimination   NYSARA to Use as Guideline for State Actions

Bobbie Sackman, Workplace Discrimination Coordinator for the NYC Chapter of NYSARA, is pleased to report two groundbreaking steps taken in 2020 by NYC government to address age discrimination in the workplace:

In July, 2020, the NYC Commission on Human Rights released its first ever set of legal guidelines protecting workers from age discrimination in the workplace.

As stated in the guidelines, “The NYC human rights law is uniquely broad and reflective of New York City’s commitment to eliminate all forms of discrimination,

offering more protections against age discrimination in the workplace than its state or federal analogues.” For further information, go to https://www1.nyc.gov/site/cchr/index.page

On November 19, 2020, the NY City Council passed three pieces of legislation addressing age discrimination in the workplace. This package of bills is a historic first. The Committee on Aging and its Chair, Councilwoman Margaret Chin, are to be congratulated for moving this legislation through City Council to enactment. The legislation includes:

• Intro 1693-A– A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to recommendations regarding age discrimination and developing the older adult workforce. An advisory committee within the Department for the Aging will develop an annual report and make recommendations to address age discrimination in the workplace.
• Intro 1694-A– A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to a center for older workforce development. This is a first within city government. This office will be dedicated to combating ageism in the workplace and providing workforce development programs for older adults. Also, promotes the inclusion and retention of older adults in the municipal workforce
• Intro 1695-A– A Local Law in relation to studying age discrimination in the workplace. Requires the City Commission on Human Rights to conduct a 2 year study on age discrimination in the workplace and include the findings in its annual report

Coincidentally, PBS did a segment on age discrimination in the workplace on November 19^th –  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/for-older-workers-pandemic-unemployment-could-be-career-ending