Bill > HB306

This bill amends Georgia's labor and industrial relations laws to establish comprehensive protections against workplace harassment and retaliation for employees in county, municipal, and consolidated government workplaces. The legislation defines key terms such as workplace harassment, sexual harassment, protected characteristics, and retaliation, and creates a legal framework that allows employees to take civil action against employers, supervisors, co-workers, or third parties who engage in harassment or retaliate against workers for reporting such behavior. The bill requires employers to develop and implement written anti-harassment policies, provide employee training, promptly investigate complaints, and take appropriate disciplinary action. Employees can seek various forms of relief, including compensation for lost wages, reinstatement, benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorney's fees. The bill establishes specific statutes of limitations for filing claims, with workplace harassment claims needing to be filed within two years of the most recent incident and retaliation claims within one year of discovery or three years after the event, whichever is earlier. Notably, employers can mitigate their liability by demonstrating good-faith efforts to prevent and address workplace harassment, such as having comprehensive policies, training supervisors, and promptly addressing reported incidents. The law aims to create safer, more respectful work environments by providing clear legal recourse for employees who experience harassment or retaliation.

Labor and Employment

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70017