S413

The New York State Senate passed legislation banning no-rehire clauses in workplace settlement agreements, advancing a bill aimed at protecting sexual harassment and discrimination victims from being forced to accept global employment restrictions as settlement conditions. Senate Print 413 passed 36-22 on a roll call vote, marking the fifth time the chamber has approved the measure. Sponsor Sen. Gounardes clarified the bill targets private employers who condition settlements on victims accepting restrictions preventing them from working anywhere within their company worldwide. "This is a body that is supposed to stand up for the victims of sexual harassment and workplace discrimination," Gounardes said. Republican opponents, led by Sens. Helming and Borrello, criticized the bill as hypocritical, pointing to Governor Hochul's no-rehire ban on approximately 2,000 corrections officers who participated in an illegal strike last month. They argued the Governor has applied similar restrictions to state, county, and local government positions, creating a double standard. Helming stated the chamber "should not be picking winners and losers when it comes to no-rehire bans." All 22 votes against the bill came from Republican senators.