LIEB BLOG

Legal Analysts

Wednesday, March 09, 2022

Caregiver Discrimination Law Passes Senate

On March 8, 2022, S5063 was passed by the NYS Senate. It's now with the Assembly. 


The law would prohibit employers from discriminating against individuals based on such individual's status as a caregiver. 


This law will fill an important protection for employees who typically argue familial status discrimination or sex discrimination in such circumstances, but both categories really are like fitting a square peg in a round hole. 


As the Bill's Justification explains, "18 percent of adults in the United States have caregiving responsibilities" and these people need access to reasonable accommodations in limited circumstances, such as supervising "the diagnosis, care, or treatment of mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition of the care recipient." 


In NYC, caregiver status is already protected. So, if you work there, you already have rights.