Sexual Harassment Training Bill Passes Senate

A bill that would broaden the requirements for mandatory sexual harassment training in the workplace was passed by the Senate on Wednesday evening. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket), would also make workplace retaliation illegal. The bill now heads to the House.

"Everyone deserves a workplace that is free from harassment and retaliation, regardless of the job that they possess," Sen. Cano said. "The momentum to speak against and denounce harassment, especially sexual harassment in the workplace, will continue with the passage of this bill because we still have a long way to go in educating people on what is and what isn’t appropriate behavior in the workplace."

Under the bill, any employer with four or more employees would be required to comply with requirements for workplace sexual harassment and training requirements. Under the current law, these requirements only apply to businesses with more than 50 employees. Employers would be required to complete the training within a month of hiring a new employee.

In addition, the bill would extend protection to domestic service employees and make it illegal for employers to retaliate against an employee who files a sexual harassment claim. The Rhode island Department of Labor and Training and the Commission for Human Rights would enforce the law.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives.