Alert: Disclosing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act of 2018
Effective October 1, 2018, all Maryland employers must comply with a new law -- the Disclosing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act of 2018. The law restricts an employer from establishing any policy that requires employees to arbitrate harassment claims, or to waive the right to a jury trial in harassment cases. In addition, the act also requires Maryland employers with 50 or more employees to collect and electronically report data on harassment claims to the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. Check your Employment Policies To prepare for October 1, employers should review employment agreements and relevant employment policies to ensure they do not require their employees to submit to mandatory arbitration for sexual harassment or retaliation claims. This is a similar provision to the New York legislation that we told you about in our blog last month. An employer may not take adverse action (i.e. discharge, suspension, demotion) against employees who refuse to…read more...