Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (H 8276, H 8278, H 8279)

A package of legislation developed as part of Rep. Teresa Tanzi's commission to study sexual harassment in the workplace could have had important and long-lasting effects. The ACLU testified in support of the entire package of legislation in June, but a few bills are especially worth highlighting. H 8276 would have extended from one year to two years the time frame to bring forward charges of unlawful employment practices, giving victims the time necessary to prepare for an investigation. H 8278 would have prohibited employers from requiring new employees to sign non-disparagement or other agreements barring them from talking about civil rights violations or other unlawful conduct. Such a provision is critical to help bring sexual harassment to light, and to allow victims to speak freely about their experiences without fear of retribution. Finally, H 8279 would have expanded the definition of employee to clarify that volunteers and unpaid interns were protected under the law. Despite the strength of the #MeToo movement and the clear need for such protections in Rhode Island, the House failed to bring any of these bills to a vote.