The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released data detailing breakdowns for the charges of workplace discrimination it received in 2018. Sexual harassment charges increased 13.6% from 2017 – making sexual harassment the second most frequent charge filed with the EEOC. Overall, the agency received 7,609 sexual harassment charges and obtained $56.6 million in monetary benefits for victims of sexual harassment. As expected, the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements continue to make significant impacts, even locally. In the current legislative session, the Connecticut General Assembly will consider a bill known as the “Time’s Up Act,” which proposes a number of changes to Connecticut’s sexual harassment law – including several additional changes affecting employers.
Among the changes, the proposed bill seeks to enhance employer-sponsored training on sexual assault. Under the Act, businesses with as few as three employees will be required to provide sexual harassment training to all workers. Compare this to current law, which limits employer-sponsored training to supervisors only at companies with at least 50 employees.
We’ll keep you updated on whether the Act progresses and becomes Connecticut law. In the meantime, we encourage all employers to review their employee handbooks and policies and comply with their state’s existing requirements for workplace harassment prevention training. As always, Murtha’s employment lawyers are available to assist and provide training opportunities that comply with federal and state law.