(NY Daily News) Gov. Cuomo signed new legislation Friday prohibiting employee discrimination based on religious attire or facial hair.
Known as the “Religious Garb Bill,” the measure puts the onus on an employer to show that appearance, such as facial hair, or the wearing of religious items, such as turbans, yarmulkes or hijabs, would present a hazard or prevent a worker from doing his or her job.
“As New Yorkers we celebrate our diversity and we champion freedom of religious expression in all places, including the workplace,” Cuomo said. “This law will protect people from discriminatory employment practices based on religious attire or facial hair and makes it crystal clear to anyone who may still have doubts that New York has zero tolerance for bigotry of any kind.”
