Effective July 14, 2022 (pursuant to legislation amending the New York State Human Rights Law that was signed by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul in March 2022), New York established a telephone hotline that employees can use to report incidents of sexual harassment to the New York State Division of Human Rights. The hotline number is 800-HARASS-3 ((800) 427-2773) and will be staffed, on a pro bono basis, by NYS attorneys who have expertise in employment law and sexual harassment issues. The hotline can be called Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Because, under the law, information about the hotline must be contained in workplace policies and postings about sexual harassment, employers need to revise their anti-harassment policies promptly to include this information.