H2006 — An Act strengthening sexual harassment and discrimination policies in the Commonwealth

Summary

An Act strengthening sexual harassment and discrimination policies in the Commonwealth

Bill Text

• Full text Current

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill enhances protections against sexual harassment and discrimination in employment by modifying the language and scope of prohibited conduct.

• Chapter 151B, Section 4

  16A. For an employer, personally or through its agents, to sexually harass any employee; or to retaliate, personally or through its agents, against any employee for filing a complaint of sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation or for cooperating in an investigation of a complaint of sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, by termination, suspension, demotion or reduction in the compensation or benefits of the employee; or to require, as a condition of employment, continuing employment, promotion, compensation or the receipt of benefits, entering into an agreement that contains a nondisclosure or confidentiality provision (except as may be necessary to protect business intellectual property and trade secrets), a non-disparagement provision, a restriction on reporting sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation or participating in the investigation of a report of sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, or a waiver of any rights or remedies available under law with respect to claims filed or that may be filed in a civil action or complaints filed or that may be filed in an administrative action for sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. → 16A. For an employer, personally or through its agents, to sexually harass any employee; or to retaliate, personally or through its agents, against any employee for filing a complaint of sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation or for cooperating in an investigation of a complaint of sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, by termination, suspension, demotion or reduction in the compensation or benefits of the employee; or to require, as a condition of employment, continuing employment, promotion, compensation or the receipt of benefits, entering into an agreement that contains a nondisclosure or confidentiality provision (except as may be necessary to protect business intellectual property and trade secrets), a non-disparagement provision, a restriction on reporting sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation or participating in the investigation of a report of sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, or a waiver of any rights or remedies available under law with respect to claims filed or that may be filed in a civil action or complaints filed or that may be filed in an administrative action for sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.

  This change updates the existing language to clarify the prohibitions and conditions related to sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

Sponsors

• Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida · Primary

Subjects