New York bans discrimination against employees with natural hairstyles

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) signed into law Friday amended legislation which explicitly bans discrimination on the basis of natural hair or hairstyle. New York is the second state to pass a hair discrimination ban, following a California law passed in recent weeks. New York City issued guidance prohibiting discrimination based on hairstyle for business operating in the city in February of this year. The hair discrimination law is to go into effect immediately. Its provisions cover hair texture, "protective hairstyles" such as braids, locks and twists, and other traits associated with a particular race. Discrimination against employees with afros is already protected against under Title VII, as they are considered by the federal courts an immutable racial characteristic.