FIGHT SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORK

The Call or RESISTBOT– PROTECT THE RIGHT TO FIGHT WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Over the past few months, Americans have been inundated with stories of how high-profile men have used their positions of power to sexually harass and assault others (primarily women). Sexual assault and harassment allegations have been levied against men in virtually every industry, sweeping up chefs, journalists, famous actors, political representatives, business leaders, and others. This massive outpouring of allegations – and businesses’ unprecedented willingness to take them seriously – is creating a cultural shift in holding harassers accountable for their actions. The long-overdue acknowledgment of the rampant nature of sexual harassment represents an opportunity to enact laws to protect against sexual harassment in the workforce.
On December 6th, 2017 the bipartisan Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017 was introduced in both the House and the Senate. The bill would eliminate forced arbitration clauses in employment contracts for sexual harassment and discrimination claims. Forced arbitration clauses are found in over 50% of American employment contracts and require employees to waive their rights to a jury trial and/or to speak publicly about an incident. Instead, the harassment victim is forced into private meetings, secret settlements, and obligatory non-disclosure agreements. Arbitration clauses clearly silence victims from coming forward and allow for harassment and assault to continue in the workplace. It is time to bring transparency to workplace sexual harassment claims and to grant victims the right to come forward publicly and in a court of law if they so choose.