Assemblymember Pamela J. Hunter (D-Syracuse) announced that legislation she helped pass, including a measure she co-sponsored, to prevent wage discrimination by expanding equal pay provisions and prohibiting employers from asking for salary history has been signed into law (Ch. 93 and 94 of 2019).

“For far too long, the prejudices of some employers have kept hardworking New Yorkers from being paid fairly,” said Hunter. “Wage inequality has no place in our state – finally we are seeing some long-overdue change. I’ll always work to ensure that employees are protected against discrimination and paid the compensation they’ve earned.”

The law expands equal pay provisions for substantially similar work and prohibits differentials in pay based on age, race, gender identity or expression, national origin, religion or military status and other protected classes under New York’s Human Rights Law (Ch. 93 of 2019). The law permits differential pay only when such pay is based on a seniority merit system. Additionally, Hunter co-sponsored legislation prohibiting employers from requesting wage or salary history as a requirement for a job application, interview or offer, or a promotion (Ch. 94 of 2019).

Earlier this year, Hunter helped pass the Equal Rights Amendment, which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in the New York State constitution (A.271). She also championed legislation giving survivors of domestic violence reasonable accommodations in the workplace and prohibiting discrimination against victims of sexual harassment as well as religious attire in the workplace (A.5618, A.5976, A.4204).