NYC strengthens laws on sexual harassment

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - New York City is set to overhaul its policies on sexual harassment in the workplace. Nearly a dozen bills, which will soon become law, aim to protect victims of sexual harassment in the workplace in government and private businesses.

The bills not only make it safer to report sexual harassment but also require businesses to receive anti-sexual harassment training and increase the statute of limitations when reporting harassment.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said this legislation will make the city "fairer and safer by strengthening sexual harassment protections."

The bills fall into three categories:

—Require city government agencies to strengthen reporting and anti-sexual harassment training.

—Require the Commission on Human Rights to deepen its outreach, extending the statute of limitations on filing sexual harassment complaints from one year to three year.

—Address sexual harassment in the private sector by expanding the types of employers that must offer sexual harassment protections and mandate that they provide the same annual training as city agencies are required to provide.

"Extending the time that victims of sexual harassment can pursue the cases in court? Clearly, that's a very important point," said Laurie Morrison, a civil rights attorney who represents employees in discrimination and harassment cases.  But she said she has concerns.

"Awareness and strengthening the laws means absolutely nothing, it's a placebo, unless we have the lawmakers, the judges, the administrators, the prosecutors—all those people—on board as well," she said.

Morrison joined the City Council in overwhelming approval of this package of bills protecting victims of sexual harassment.

"It's all a good thing. I think we're moving in the right direction," Morrison said. "I wish this were all done sooner, of course, as I'm sure we all do."

Council Member Adrienne Adams said that New York is a leader in addressing the issue.

"Quite frankly, I can't wait for signing," Adams said.

Although the City Council has approved the bills, de Blasio did not sign them Monday. He said he will sign them soon and looks forward to it.