Since 2019, the Worker Justice Project has represented clients and provided advice in more than 10,000 cases. Our services have enabled our clients to obtain and retain jobs and occupational licenses—and to support themselves and their families.

The Worker Justice Project won a major victory in 2021 when a bill we advocated for was enacted into law. The bill expanded the New York City Fair Chance Act to prohibit employment discrimination against people with pending criminal cases, unless the employer properly determines, after considering seven fair chance factors, that (1) there is a direct relationship between the alleged offense and the job, or (2) employing the person would involve an unreasonable risk to people or property. Before the bill went into effect in July 2021, employers had near-total discretion to discriminate against people with pending criminal cases, even though only a small percentage of cases end in a criminal conviction.

The Worker Justice Project is zealously enforcing these antidiscrimination protections. Since the Fair Chance Act amendment went into effect, the Worker Justice Project has successfully helped many clients with a pending criminal case to obtain employment or reinstatement; in many of those cases, our clients have also received financial compensation. For example, when our client Ms. C, a home health aide, was arrested, her employer suspended her employment. The Worker Justice Project quickly sent a demand letter to Ms. C’s employer explaining that the employer’s conduct violated the amended Fair Chance Act, and advising that the Worker Justice Project was prepared to take legal action if Ms. C was not immediately reinstated. As a result of the Worker Justice Project’s advocacy, Ms. C’s employer reinstated her to her job immediately, and also agreed to pay her two weeks of back pay for the shifts she had missed due to the suspension. After Ms. C was back at work, she was able to continue providing for her family while she fought her criminal case.