Sexual Harassment & the Law: A Call to Action for Lawyers in the Era of #MeToo

This program provided a morning plenary addressing the changing legal landscape in the wake of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements and a luncheon discussion around sexual harassment within the legal profession. In addition, break-out CLE sessions covered:

• An Overview of Employer Best Practices for Investigating, Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
• Challenges and Strategies for Low-Wage and Immigrant Workers in Reporting Harassment
• #MeTooAcademia: Special Considerations When Litigating Employment Discrimination Cases on Campus
• Jurisdiction in Sexual Harassment: Where Criminal, Administrative, and Regulatory Remedies Intersect

Introduction and Morning Plenary
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Introduction: Roger Juan Maldonado, President, New York City Bar Association

Speakers: Commissioner Carmelyn Malalis, S. Jeanine Conley, Carrie Goldberg, Andrea Johnson, Cynthia Lowen, LaDonna Powell, Elizabeth Saylor

Jurisdiction in Sexual Harassment- Where Criminal, Administrative, and Regulatory Remedies Intersect
Download from iTunes here, listen on Google Play here, or stream it on the web here.

Panel: Christin Damiano, A.D.A. Jennifer Gaffney, Hollis V. Pfitsch, Council Member Keith Powers, Electra Yourke

1. How should a victim of sexual harassment choose where to report?
2. When sexual harassment is severe, it may violate criminal law, such as sexual abuse, forcible touching, and unlawful surveillance.
3. What constitutes a violation of the NYC Human Rights Law with regards to sexual harassment in the workplace.
4. When and how can a victim of sexual harassment report to the EEOC, and what does that process look like?
5. Explanation of recent legislation passed by NY City Council to expand statute of limitation and jurisdiction for sexual harassment complainants.

Challenges and Strategies for Low-Wage and Immigrant Workers in Reporting Harassment – Where Criminal, Administrative, and Regulatory Remedies Intersect
Download from iTunes here, listen on Google Play here, or stream it on the web here.

Speakers: Danielle Alvarado, Daniela Contreras, Rebecca Nathanson, Hon. Laura Safer Espinoza, Marrisa Senteno, Cristina Velez

1. Sexual harassment in agricultural work and how to prevent
2. What does sexual harassment look like in domestic workplaces and what rights do domestic workers have that differ from workers in other settings?
3. What is a U visa and how may someone who has been a victim of workplace sexual harassment be eligible?
4. Explanation of anti-retaliation provisions under New York State wage and hour law, and NYDOL’s U visa certification policy.