According to the NYS Division of Human Rights, in legislative testimony provided earlier this month, sexual harassment complaints made to the Division have increased 62% since 2016.

Plus, this gigantic increase in complaints occurred before every employee in the State received training as to their rights when either being a victim of sexual harassment or being retaliated against for attempting to stop harassment.

Remember - every employer must train their employees before October 9, 2019 per Labor Law 201-g.

Failure to train is a misdemeanor and will be the kiss of death when trying to defend the company against a complaint of sex discrimination.

Everything employers need to know about firing an ugly employee.

Foreclosure laws vary drastically between the states. A recent decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals questions whether national banks can rely upon regulations and guidance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency when deciding whether local state law governs. Dennis Valet, Esq., examines whether Congress will step in to regulate a fractured banking system filled with contradicting state laws in order to give national banks the certainty they need to operate in multiple jurisdictions.

Misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor can be devastating to an employer. Employers can potentially be liable for back wages, overtime pay, liquidated damages, attorneys’ fees and stark penalties for failure to withhold applicable taxes, pay workers compensation and unemployment insurance. Learn how to avoid significant financial consequences prior to classifying them as independent contractors.

HUD issued the revised FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook on March 27, 2019. Updates are set forth on pages 2-17.

This Handbook details the requirements to do business with the Federal Housing Administration from origination to servicing and loss mitigation together with claims and enforcement.

While the document is primarily for mortgage lenders, real estate brokers who do business with HUD should review pages 102 and 964, as the Handbook details certification, recertification and enforcement.