§ 861-f. Retaliation. 1. It is a violation of this article for an employer or any agent of any employer, to retaliate through discharge or in any other manner against any person in the terms of conditions of his or her employment for exercising any rights granted under this article for:

(a) making, or threatening to make, a complaint to an employer, co-worker or to a public body that rights guaranteed under this article have been violated;

(b) causing to be instituted any proceeding under or related to this article; or

(c) providing information to, or testifying before, any public body conducting an investigation, hearing or inquiry into any such violation of a law, rule or regulation by such employer. Nothing in this section shall limit the commissioner's authority under section two hundred fifteen of the labor law, or any other statute. 2. Any act of retaliation under this section shall subject an employer to the civil penalties under section eight hundred sixty-one-e of this article, or to a private cause of action, or both.