Bill > S1172

This bill expands legal protections against discrimination and harassment to include unpaid workers, volunteers, interns, and independent contractors in Massachusetts. The bill modifies existing labor laws by broadening the definitions of "employer" and "employee" to cover both paid and unpaid work arrangements. Specifically, it makes it unlawful to discriminate against or harass individuals in apprenticeships, training programs, unpaid internships, volunteer programs, and independent contractor relationships based on characteristics such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, gender identity, pregnancy, military status, and sexual orientation. The bill allows these previously unprotected workers to file discrimination complaints and holds employers liable for harassment if they knew or should have known about discriminatory behavior and failed to take corrective action. Importantly, while creating a "limited employment relationship" for discrimination protection, the bill explicitly states that these protections do not create a full employment relationship for purposes of wage, workers' compensation, or unemployment insurance. The legislation aims to provide comprehensive anti-discrimination safeguards for workers in non-traditional and unpaid work environments.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1172