Touching Another Person’s Hair in NYS is Now Racial and Sexual Harassment in Business and at Work

Earlier this month, New York state enacted a new law clarifying that racial discrimination includes discrimination on the basis of hair traits historically associated with race.

Specifically, the law amends the definition of race in New York state Human Rights Law and the Dignity for All Students Act to to prohibit race discrimination based on natural hair or hairstyles; defines “race” for certain specific purposes to include, but not be limited to, ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, and ethnic background, and to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles; and defines “protective hairstyles” to include, but not be limited to, such hairstyles as braids, locks, and twists historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles.”

Touching such hairstyles as mentioned above is also sexual harassment under NYS and Federal law, defined as unnecessary or inappropriate physical contact.

How do you prevent sexual, hair and other forms of discrimination / harassment in business and at work?