NY Establishes COVID-19 Health and Safety Standards and Anti-Retaliation Worker Protections

ALBANY – Last night, Governor Cuomo signed the NY HERO Act into law, which will create enforceable occupational safety and health standards to protect workers, their families, and their communities from airborne disease infection and from retaliation for raising health and safety concerns.

In response, the New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following statement from executive director Donna Lieberman:

“The pandemic has put on full display the unsafe and exploitative working conditions that essential workers have too often had to endure. New Yorkers of color, women, and immigrants have disproportionately shouldered the burden of this public health crisis and have too often had to make the impossible choice between their own health and a paycheck.

“With the NY HERO Act signed into law, New York will become the first state in the nation to have enforceable safety and health standards that protect workers, their families, and their communities from infection and from retaliation for raising safety concerns at work. Thanks to tireless advocacy from essential workers and their families the HERO ACT ensures that New York can reopen with safety, security, and dignity for working people.”