FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 16th, 2022.
Governor Hochul Signs Senator Biaggi’s Bill to Establish a Hotline for Complainants of Workplace Sexual Harassment.
ALBANY, NY – Today, Governor Hochul signed S812A/A02035, sponsored by Senator Alessandra Biaggi and Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou, to establish a toll-free confidential legal hotline for victims of workplace sexual harassment. This hotline will connect complainants with experienced pro-bono attorneys who will help inform them of their legal rights and advise them on the specifics of their individualized cases.
Only 30% of victims of workplace sexual harassment report the harassment to an official channel. Even fewer victims file a formal complaint. This is often because employees don’t know where to go or what their options are. By creating a free legal hotline, employees across the state – in a variety of workplaces and industries – can now easily access confidential legal guidance through the Division of Human Rights.
"Last year, New Yorkers made it abundantly clear they stand with survivors of sexual harassment and expect abusers to be held accountable. It is the duty of the legislature to build upon this momentum and enact legislation to protect workers across all sectors. As the sponsor of S812A, I am proud to see this bill signed into law and want to thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to creating a safe and harassment-free New York. I also want to acknowledge the Sexual Harassment Working Group and thank them for their tireless commitment to combating workplace sexual harassment and transforming our culture to prioritize survivor justice,” said State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx/Westchester). “By establishing a free, confidential legal hotline for complainants of workplace sexual harassment, we can ensure survivors have the knowledge and tools they need to report harassment.”
"For too long, we have asked workers to suffer in silence when it comes to sexual harassment, and I am glad we've taken the essential step of setting up this toll-free confidential hotline to address complaints of workplace sexual harassment. The victims of sexual harassment often lack reliable advice about their legal rights, or even whether what happened to them was sexual harassment at all. This hotline will connect callers with experienced attorneys who can offer counsel on the details of their complaints and work with complainants to navigate this often intimidating process. It's about time,” said Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou (D-Manhattan).
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