Thursday was a historic day for New York on two fronts. The state became the first to grant workplace rights to domestic employees, and, um, the last to allow for no-fault divorce. The divorce bill gained official approval Thursday night, meaning couples are now, finally, allowed to split up solely by mutual consent. Albany also approved a bill covering domestic workers by the law against sexual harassment or abuse, and providing them temporary disability benefits, unemployment insurance, and overtime. And lastly, on this busy day for the legislature, a bill was passed that will allow midwives to practice independently of obstetricians, a milestone expected to help spur the home-birth movement.
Albany Approves No-Fault Divorce and Domestic Workers’ Rights [NYT]
