Arielle E. Kobetz

Arielle Kobetz is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department. She assists employers in a wide range of areas, including discrimination, wage and hour, and traditional labor.

Prior to joining Proskauer, Arielle served as a law clerk at the New York City Human Resources Administration, Employment Law Unit, where she worked on a variety of employment discrimination and internal employee disciplinary issues.

Firm/Organization: Proskauer Rose LLP

Blogs: California Employment Law Update, Law and the Workplace, Proskauer Whistleblower Defense

Latest Articles

Law and the Workplace

New York State Enacts Law Prohibiting Religious Discrimination Based on Appearance

By Evandro Gigante & Arielle E. Kobetz on August 13, 2019

On the heels of enacting a law to prohibit hairstyle discrimination, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed into law a bill that amends the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) to expressly prohibit employment discrimination based on attire, clothing, or facial hair worn as a form of religious observance. Specifically, the new law makes it an unlawful discriminatory practice for an employer (or an employee or agent thereof) to impose upon a…

Law and the Workplace

New York State Significantly Expands Workplace Anti-Discrimination Protections

By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant & Arielle E. Kobetz on August 12, 2019

On August 12, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law significant expansions to workplace anti-discrimination protections in New York State. As we previously reported in detail, the new legislation includes numerous measures regarding discrimination and harassment in all forms (not just sexual harassment) in the workplace. The signing of the bill triggers the countdown to the effective dates of the following provisions: Effective Immediately New York employers will be required to provide employees, both at…

Law and the Workplace

New Jersey Expands Medical Marijuana Protections

By Evandro Gigante, Arielle E. Kobetz & Tony S. Martinez on July 26, 2019

On July 2, 2019, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act (the “Act”), which amends the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (“CUMMA”) to provide greater clarity on the legal protections for both employers and employees. CUMMA, which was signed into law on January 18th, 2010, legalized the use of medical marijuana for New Jersey residents suffering from a debilitating medical condition. As originally drafted,…

Law and the Workplace

Oregon Enacts Expansive Paid Family and Medical Leave Law

By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant & Arielle E. Kobetz on July 24, 2019

UPDATE: Governor Kate Brown signed the bill into law on August 9, 2019. Oregon is the latest state to enact a paid family and medical leave law. The law, which will cover all employers with one or more employees working in Oregon, establishes a state-managed insurance program with employers and employees paying into a paid leave insurance fund. While the law will take effect on September 29, 2019, employers will not be required to begin…

Law and the Workplace

San Antonio, Texas Paid Sick Leave Law Put on Hold Pending Legal Challenge

By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant & Arielle E. Kobetz on July 23, 2019

Implementation of the City of San Antonio’s paid sick leave ordinance has been delayed pending a legal challenge, less than two weeks before the ordinance’s scheduled effective date of August 1, 2019. On July 15, 2019, the Texas Attorney General and about a dozen business groups filed suit against the City, alleging that the paid sick leave ordinance is unconstitutional because it is preempted by the Texas Minimum Wage Act. In connection with the suit,…

Law and the Workplace

Rock Beats Scissor: Federal Law Cuts Through New York State’s Attempt to Prohibit Mandatory Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Claims

By Evandro Gigante, Danielle J. Moss & Arielle E. Kobetz on July 18, 2019

Proponents of mandatory arbitration in New York can collectively let out a sigh of relief as a federal court judge has weighed in on the question of whether New York State’s law prohibiting mandatory arbitration of sexual harassment claims (CPLR § 7515), effective July 11, 2018, is preempted by federal law. The short answer, as reflected in a decision issued by the Hon. Judge Denise Cote, is yes: the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) trumps…

Law and the Workplace

The Clock Is Ticking: Less Than Three Months Until the NYS Deadline for Mandatory Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

By Evandro Gigante & Arielle E. Kobetz on July 10, 2019

As we find ourselves in the midst of summer, employers in New York should keep an eye on the upcoming October 9th deadline for providing anti-harassment training to all employees. As we previously reported, effective October 9, 2018, all New York State employers are required to adopt written sexual harassment prevention policies and institute annual anti-harassment training for employees. To satisfy the training requirements, employers may either: (1) adopt the State’s model training script…

Law and the Workplace

Colorado Enacts Laws Regarding Pay Equity, Salary History and Criminal Background Inquiries

By Allan Bloom & Arielle E. Kobetz on July 8, 2019

The Colorado legislature has been quite active in recent weeks, passing several new employment laws, many of which reflect nationwide trends. Among other things, the new laws address discriminatory pay disparities, salary history inquiries and criminal background checks. Pay Disparity Effective January 1, 2021, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (the “Act”) will prohibit employers from paying members of the opposite sex different wages for “substantially similar work” based on sex (including gender identity)…

Law and the Workplace

DC Paid Leave Tax: Contributions Begin on July 1

By Guy Brenner & Arielle E. Kobetz on July 2, 2019

As we previously reported, the Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act of 2016 will provide Washington, DC employees with paid leave for several reasons, including: Up to eight weeks of paid parental leave to bond with a new child; Up to six weeks of paid family leave to care for a covered family member with a serious health condition; and Up to two weeks of paid medical leave to care for the employee’s own serious…

Law and the Workplace

Connecticut Expands Sexual Harassment Training and Notice Requirements

By Harris Mufson, Arielle E. Kobetz & Tony S. Martinez on July 2, 2019

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont recently signed into law the Time’s Up Act (the “Act”), which amends existing state law to impose greater sexual harassment training and notice requirements on employers. Training Requirements Currently, Connecticut law requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide two hours of sexual harassment training to all supervisory employees. While not required, the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) encourages employers to provide an update of legal interpretations and…

Arielle E. Kobetz

New York State Enacts Law Prohibiting Religious Discrimination Based on Appearance

New York State Significantly Expands Workplace Anti-Discrimination Protections

New Jersey Expands Medical Marijuana Protections

Oregon Enacts Expansive Paid Family and Medical Leave Law

San Antonio, Texas Paid Sick Leave Law Put on Hold Pending Legal Challenge

Rock Beats Scissor: Federal Law Cuts Through New York State’s Attempt to Prohibit Mandatory Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Claims

The Clock Is Ticking: Less Than Three Months Until the NYS Deadline for Mandatory Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

Colorado Enacts Laws Regarding Pay Equity, Salary History and Criminal Background Inquiries

DC Paid Leave Tax: Contributions Begin on July 1

Connecticut Expands Sexual Harassment Training and Notice Requirements

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