City of Allentown's New Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

Employers in Allentown who heard whispers of a new ordinance that alters the City’s anti-discrimination policies can rest a little easier knowing that the City’s ordinance largely mirrors Lehigh County’s Human Relations Ordinance. As of June 14, 2025, all employers with at least one employee in the City of Allentown must comply with Ordinance No. 16410 which adds new protections compared to the City’s old ordinance. Although new protections were added, these protections should be largely familiar for employers who currently employ anyone in Lehigh County as the City’s new ordinance directly mirrors the language of Lehigh County’s Human Relations Ordinance in all but a few cases. Specifically, the City’s ordinance includes an explicit prohibition on discrimination on the basis of hairstyle and three extra requirements for public accommodations; businesses are prohibited from refusing cash for all goods and services, charging more for cash payments, and refusing to immediately furnish upon request a physical receipt when a customer purchases items or services with cash. Therefore, employers in the City of Allentown who are already in compliance with Lehigh County’s ordinance only need to account for the above four provisions to be in compliance with the City’s newly amended ordinance.

If you’re an employer who is concerned about your company’s compliance with Lehigh County and/or the City of Allentown’s anti-discrimination ordinances, or if you have questions about any other labor and employment law topic, do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Hoffman & Hlavac. To stay updated on key labor and employment law developments that affect your workplace, be sure to subscribe to our blog.