Steven Mitchell Sack, “The Employee’s Lawyer,” says the state’s establishment of a virtual portal to report any workplace violations will allow employees to do so privately and without retribution.
On April 7, 2021, the New York State Legislature passed the state budget. One of the highlights of the budget is the creation of a virtual portal in which employees can privately file complaints against companies that are in violation of state employment law. Some of these include wage/hour violations, racial and/or sexual discrimination and harassment and retaliation, among others.
Those who wish to file a complaint can do so by visiting ny.gov. Reports may remain anonymous.
“The virtual portal is an excellent idea,” Mr. Sack says. “Workers may not file a complaint with the human resources department out of fear of retribution. There is also the conference in which it’s your word against your supervisor’s. By filing a complaint through the virtual portal, workers don’t have to worry about being harassed or intimidated. Rather, they can submit their complaints without their supervisor’s knowledge. If you are unsure whether to file a complaint anonymously, consult an employment lawyer immediately.”
