By Hank Russell
One hundred two Long Islanders who were victims of discrimination were awarded compensation totaling $882,268 from the New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR). This was part of a compensation deal the DHR announced in which the agency was compensating 903 New Yorkers statewide to the tune of over $8 million for the 2024 fiscal year — the most money given out since 2011 and a 20% increase from last fiscal year.
The DHR has the authority to levy fines and award monetary damages. The agency may also impose additional remedies including policy changes, training, and modifications for accessibility. While a private attorney is not needed to represent a complainant, individuals may hire attorneys for their cases. In 2021, the Human Rights Law was amended to provide for the award of attorney’s fees in all areas of the law. This year, more than $854,000 in attorney fees were ordered to be paid by respondents.
“New York State is the State of opportunity and no one should ever be denied equal treatment or inclusion in all that our State has to offer,” DHR Acting Commissioner Denise Miranda said. “But when that does occur, the Division of Human Rights is prepared to investigate and enforce our State’s Human Rights Law. Whether it’s awarding monetary damages for victims, imposing civil penalties for those who discriminate, or ordering a change to an institutional policy, we will always ensure that every New Yorker is treated lawfully and fairly.”
According to Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, New York was the first state in the nation to enact a Human Rights Law, which makes it illegal to discriminate in areas such as employment, public accommodation, education, and housing based on race, religion, sex, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability or any other protected class covered under the law. The Division of Human Rights is the agency charged with enforcing this law and investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating discrimination cases.
The DHR shared with Long Island Life & Politics some of the more prominent case examples from Long Island:
- A woman and her daughter alleged that they were sexually harassed by the kitchen manager while working at a Long Island restaurant. The complaints were settled for $68,750.
- A Suffolk County woman alleged that her apartment building management did not provide adequate apartment repairs due to her source of income. The complainant lived in a subsidized apartment and received Social Security Disability assistance. The complainant alleged that she was told by a maintenance worker that occupants who received housing assistance or lived in subsidized apartment received lower-quality repair work. The complaint was settled for $50,000. The management company also agreed to have its management staff, maintenance workers and supers undergo anti-discrimination training.
- A Muslim woman who was hired as a receptionist at a obstetrics/gynecology office in Nassau County alleged that she was terminated on her first day of work because she wore a hijab and wanted an accommodation to pray during the day. The complaint was settled for $43,500 in compensatory damages. In addition, the business agreed to pay $21,450 in attorney’s fees to the complainant.
Andrew Sack, an employment law attorney based in Merrick, said the number of complaints should raise concerns for businesses who may not take discrimination claims seriously.
“Employers are now on notice that they cannot wrongfully discriminate against employees due to their status in a protected class,” Sack said. “Workers who believe they have been discriminated against should feel proud to live in a state such as New York where employers will be held liable for negatively treating them due to the color of their skin, religion, gender, age, race, or any other protected characteristic under the New York State Human Rights Law.”