Tag: State Laws

PRESS RELEASE: Women in New York have new rights around equal pay, harassment, discrimination, and more

Written by A Better Balance’s team of women’s rights and civil rights lawyers, The Working Woman’s Pocket Guide offers a step-by-step guide to the employment rights and protections New York women have at work and when they may need time away from work. With sections on pay equity, harassment, discrimination, paid family leave, healthcare coverage, and more, the guide is an A-Z resource for working women.  

In Arizona, A Victory in the Courts for Paid Sick Time and Local Democracy

After drawn out litigation, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled earlier this year that the State’s attempts to pass legislation that prohibits cities from passing laws regarding benefits—including paid leave—violates Arizona’s paid sick and safe days ballot initiative and the Arizona Voter Protection Act. The Arizona Supreme Court has now settled the issue by refusing to interfere with the Court of Appeals decision. As a result, local governments in Arizona can pass paid leave and other benefits laws that build on all rights at the state level.

How the Gig Economy Denies Its Workers Basic Rights

It’s long been a controversial fact that gig economy companies, like many driving, delivery, and home cleaning services, are able to circumvent federal and state labor protections by misclassifying their workers as independent contractors rather than employees. This allows these companies to increase their profit margins by denying their workers, who are ineligible to unionize, important benefits like paid sick time, paid leave, and paid time off.

Celebrating Equal Pay & The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team in New York

We were proud to lead the hard-won fight to pass these laws, and ensure New York sets a national standard for fair and equal pay. We’re also proud of the U.S. women’s soccer players for standing up for the equal pay they deserve, and for shining a spotlight on the broad issue of pay disparity across the U.S., which impacts groups including low wage workers, single mothers, and women of color particularly harshly. 

Celebrating A Major Paid Leave Win in OR, and National Progress!

This weekend, Oregon passed a robust and inclusive paid family & medical leave law, becoming the ninth state to do so nationwide. The law will provide up to 12 weeks of income to those who need to take time off work to recover from a serious health condition, care for a seriously ill loved one, or welcome a new child, with an additional two weeks of leave available for pregnancy-related complications.

ABB Co-Authors Amicus Brief to Fight for Paid Sick Leave for All Michigan Workers

Lame duck amendments made to the state’s paid sick leave initiative effectively gutted the law in a way that will mean that millions of Michigan workers who were originally covered by the initiative will be denied any paid sick time. Because the Michigan constitution gives Michigan voters the right to put important public issues on the ballot and because the lame duck legislature took that right away, we believe the Legislature’s changes to be unconstitutional.

Maine Legislature Passes Bill Granting Pregnant Workers the Right to Reasonable Accommodations

Today, after years of hard work from advocates, the Maine legislature passed the nation’s 27th law guaranteeing pregnant workers the clear right to reasonable accommodations when needed to keep them safe and on the job. The bill would make it illegal for Maine employers to discriminate against pregnant workers by denying them reasonable accommodations, if they can make those accommodations without undue hardship.
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