Mark S. Goldstein

Firm/Organization: Reed Smith LLP

Blogs: AdLaw By Request®, Employment Law Watch, Technology Law Dispatch

Latest Articles

New data security law has broad implications for New York employers

By Kimberly Gold, Mark S. Goldstein, Alexandra Manfredi & Jim Barbuto

October 25, 2019

On October 23, 2019, New York state’s Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security (SHIELD) Act went into effect. The law broadens the state’s existing breach notification laws and imposes new security obligations for companies doing business in New York, including an expanded focus on how companies handle biometric data. The SHIELD Act also applies to employee information, as long as there is at least one employee in New York state, regardless of the size…

Technology Law Dispatch

Implications for employers and the biometric landscape under New York’s expanded data security law

By Kimberly Gold, Mark S. Goldstein, Alexandra Manfredi & Jim Barbuto

October 25, 2019

Over the past several years, legislators from coast to coast have increasingly made data privacy and cybersecurity top priorities. The result has been a spike in the number and stringency of laws that impose proactive and reactive responsibilities – covering, for instance, data security and breach notifications – on companies that collect personal information, whether from their customers, their employees, end users, or others. That legislative trend has recently expanded previous obligations of companies conducting…

Employment Law Watch

NYC Council amends the New York City Human Rights Law definition of covered employer

By Cindy Schmitt Minniti, Mark S. Goldstein & Leora Grushka

October 8, 2019

New York City’s Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) is one of the broadest anti-discrimination statutes in the country. But does it apply to all Big Apple employers, regardless of size? A recent amendment passed by the City Council clarifies precisely which entities are considered “employers” for purposes of the NYCHRL. In its current incarnation, the NYCHRL simply states that it does not apply to any employer with fewer than four persons in its employ. This definition…

Employment Law Watch

New York City’s Commission on Human Rights issues new guidance on immigration status and national origin discrimination

By Cindy Schmitt Minniti, Mark S. Goldstein & Leora Grushka

October 4, 2019

For decades, the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) has provided protections against discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of an individual’s actual or perceived immigration status or national origin. However, last week, New York City’s Commission on Human Rights (NYCCHR) issued new guidance (the Guidance) that greatly expands the basis on which an employer can be penalized under the law. The Guidance provides examples to illustrate prohibited harassment and retaliation against individuals,…

Employment Law Watch

Fall to bring more than just foliage for New York employers

By Cindy Schmitt Minniti, Mark S. Goldstein & Alexandra Manfredi

September 12, 2019

New York lawmakers had a busy summer overhauling many of the state’s existing workplace laws. Many of the newly enacted changes, as well as others enacted within the past year, become effective in October 2019. Below we will highlight the new laws taking effect in October and discuss measures employers should take to ensure their workplaces are compliant. Already in effect: All New York State employers must provide new hires with a notice containing the …

Employment Law Watch

New York bolsters workplace safeguards for domestic violence victims

By Cindy Schmitt Minniti, Mark S. Goldstein & Alexandra Manfredi

September 9, 2019

Following New York City’s lead, New York state and Westchester County have each enacted laws providing additional workplace protections to victims of domestic violence. In this post, we will discuss these new laws and their impact on your business. New York state: Last month, Governor Cuomo signed legislation amending the state’s antidiscrimination laws with respect to victims of domestic violence. The new law, which goes into effect on November 18, 2019, prohibits employers from engaging…

Employment Law Watch

New York bans religious garb and grooming discrimination

By Cindy Schmitt Minniti, Mark S. Goldstein & Alexandra Manfredi

August 16, 2019

New York lawmakers have been busy this summer. First, in June, they passed a suite of bills significantly expanding the protections afforded by the state’s antidiscrimination law and adding remedies for employees asserting unpaid wage claims. Then in July, they loosened the definition of retaliation under the state’s labor law. They apparently were not done. On August 9, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill barring employers from discriminating against employees for “the…

Employment Law Watch

Connecticut enacts expansive sexual harassment prevention measures

By Cindy Schmitt Minniti, Mark S. Goldstein & Alexandra Manfredi

August 14, 2019

Connecticut has joined New York, New Jersey, and several other states in adopting measures to combat sexual harassment in the workplace. Effective October 1, 2019, Connecticut employers will have a host of new training, notice, and human resources requirements with which to comply — and will now face new, substantial categories of damages for violations. This post will discuss these new changes, as well as the other expanded employee protections afforded under this new legislation.…

Employment Law Watch

New York Continues Expansion of Worker Wage Protections (Part 2)

By Cindy Schmitt Minniti, Mark S. Goldstein & Alexandra Manfredi

August 13, 2019

This is the second installment of our two-part blog series on recent wage-related changes to New York state law. In part one, we covered the expanded definition of retaliation under the New York Labor Law. Today, we will discuss a bill that permits employees to place wage liens on their employer’s property. Employees in New York have long been able to seek recourse for wage claims through litigation in federal and state court, as…

Employment Law Watch

New York Continues Expansion of Worker Wage Protections (Part 1)

By Cindy Schmitt Minniti, Mark S. Goldstein & Alexandra Manfredi

August 12, 2019

The New York state legislature recently passed two bills providing additional protections to employees asserting unpaid wage claims. These changes are the latest in the state’s overhaul of its employment law landscape this summer. As we discussed in previous posts, New York recently enacted limitations on the use of nondisclosure provisions in settlement and separation agreements, new standards for litigating and defending harassment claims, expanded equal pay protections, a statewide ban on salary history inquiries,…

Mark S. Goldstein

New data security law has broad implications for New York employers

Implications for employers and the biometric landscape under New York’s expanded data security law

NYC Council amends the New York City Human Rights Law definition of covered employer

New York City’s Commission on Human Rights issues new guidance on immigration status and national origin discrimination

Fall to bring more than just foliage for New York employers

New York bolsters workplace safeguards for domestic violence victims

New York bans religious garb and grooming discrimination

Connecticut enacts expansive sexual harassment prevention measures

New York Continues Expansion of Worker Wage Protections (Part 2)

New York Continues Expansion of Worker Wage Protections (Part 1)

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