CLIENT ALERT – New York City Passes Ordinance Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Unemployment Status

Effective June 11, 2013, the New York City Human Rights Law is amended to prohibit employers and employment agencies from discriminating against job applicants on the basis of unemployment status. The law also prohibits employers/employment agencies from publishing advertisements for any job in New York City that indicates that current employment is a requirement or qualification for a job, or that an employer/employment agency will not consider currently unemployed individuals. Although the law provides certain clarifying provisions regarding permissible hiring practices, employers/employment agencies subject to the law are strongly encouraged to review their hiring practices, including job advertisements, employment applications, and interview practices, in order to ensure compliance with the law prior to June 11, 2013.