79% of NYC workers support the adoption of universal just cause legislation.
The Current State: At Will Employment
New York City’s at-will employment system allows employers to terminate workers at any time -- without a fair reason or for no reason at all. Although there exist protections against certain types of discriminatory or retaliatory terminations, they are difficult to enforce under at-will employment where employers are not required to provide an actual reason for termination – and where many unfair reasons for firings remain perfectly legal.
When workers do speak out against harassment on the job, their employer can easily terminate them without having to give a reason.
An unjust firing and sudden loss of income can be devastating to workers and their families.
Almost half of all working New Yorkers (43 percent) — including majorities of women, Latinx workers, and Black workers — are only one or two paychecks away from not being able to pay their bills.
The disruption and destabilization resulting from unfair firings hurt Black and Latino workers the most. They are more likely than white workers to face an extended period of unemployment after losing a job.
The at-will system denies workers stable, secure employment and leaves them afraid to speak up about unfair or illegal workplace conditions, undermining public health and employment standards.
Fired Without Warning or Reason: Why New Yorkers Need Just Cause Job Protections
The Alternative: The Secure Jobs Act
Intro 837-2022
The Secure Jobs Act has four main parts, all with the goal of giving workers more power and protections in their workplaces.
Requires employers to give workers 14 days’ notice of termination, provide a valid reason and written explanation for the discharge
1
Implements a progressive discipline system to give employees the opportunity to improve their work performance before termination
2
Requires employers to show proof of economic hardship before laying off employees
3
Bans employers from disciplining or firing workers using data from electronic monitoring
4
Our New York City Council Co-Sponsors
The Secure Jobs Act has been introduced by Council Member Tiffany Cabán, District 22.
The following Council Members have co-sponsored Intro 837:
Sandy Nurse
Shahana K. Hanif
Lincoln Restler
Charles Barron
Alexa Avilés
Jennifer Gutiérrez
Christopher Marte
Chi A. Ossé
Kristin Richardson Jordan