News

April 27, 2018

Combating Sexual Harassment

The recently approved state budget included significant changes to laws combating sexual harassment in the workplace. The budget included:

Establishing a model sexual harassment policy, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Division of Human Rights, for employers to adopt or use to establish a similar policy that meets or exceeds the minimum standards of the model policy
Amending the law to protect contractors, subcontractors, vendors, consultants or others providing services in the workplace from sexual harassment in the workplace
Requiring all state contractors to submit an affirmation that they have a sexual harassment policy and that they have trained all of their employees.
Prohibiting employers from using a mandatory arbitration provision in an employment contract in relation to sexual harassment.
Requiring officers and employees of the state or of any public entity to reimburse the state for any state or public payment made upon a judgement of intentional wrongdoing related to sexual harassment.
The Chamber encourages you to review these new provisions aimed at combating sexual harassment.