Bill > S1316

This bill creates the Healthy Workplace Act to address workplace bullying by establishing a legal duty of care for employers to prevent and respond to abusive work environments. The legislation defines workplace bullying as actions that cause physical or psychological harm, including verbal abuse, intimidation, humiliation, and deliberate undermining of an employee's work performance. Employers are required to develop policies and procedures to prevent bullying, conduct annual employee training, and respond to reports of bullying through good faith investigations and remedial measures. The bill allows employees to bring legal action in Superior Court if an employer fails to meet these obligations, with potential remedies including stopping bullying behaviors, providing relief such as medical care and lost wages, and disciplining those responsible for bullying. The legislation covers workplace bullying regardless of whether it involves discrimination based on protected class status, recognizing that current legal protections are inadequate. The bill requires that actions be filed within one year of the alleged violation and does not supersede existing employment laws, providing a comprehensive approach to addressing workplace harassment beyond traditional discrimination frameworks.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1316