Mid-Hudson News reports that New York has a new law prohibiting employers from disciplining employees who opt out of meetings about the employer’s political or religious views. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the legislation that expands employee protections of speech and conscience. Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO, said, “We applaud Governor Hochul for signing into law three critical pieces of legislation that ensure New York State leads the way when it comes to protecting workers’ rights.... Among the new laws is legislation that addresses the long history of employers using so-called ‘captive audience’ meetings to force their views on personal decisions related to religion, health care, politics, or joining civic or fraternal organizations or labor unions. This new law protects workers by preventing employers from taking adverse actions against their employees for refusing to participate in such meetings.” Hochul bragged the bill helps make New York, "the most worker-friendly state in the nation." Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.