In April, Governor Charles W. Turnbull approved a law that affects every employer and employee in the Virgin Islands. While the Territory already has laws prohibiting discrimination, Act No. 6829 amends the Virgin Islands Civil Rights Act to require every employer in the territory to adopt a policy against sexual harassment in the workplace and provide a written copy to each employee. Employers with five or more employees are required to conduct education and training programs designed to prevent sexual harassment. The Act also makes it unlawful to retaliate against employees making good faith reports of harassment. In perhaps its most significant provision, Act No. 6829 provides for individual monetary liability, not only employers, but also for supervisors, managers or co-employees who are found to have engaged in sexual harassment.
