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BE HEARD in the Workplace Act

USA117th CongressS-3219| Senate 
| Updated: 11/17/2021
Patty Murray

Patty Murray

Democratic Senator

Washington

Cosponsors (21)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination in the Workplace Act or the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act This bill expands protections against discrimination and harassment in the workplace and raises the minimum wage for tipped employees. Specifically, the bill (1) makes it an unlawful employment practice to discriminate against an individual in the workplace based on sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, or a sex stereotype; and (2) provides a statutory definition for what constitutes workplace harassment. Further, these protections apply to all workplaces, regardless of size, and to all workers, including independent contractors, interns, volunteers, and trainees. The bill prohibits employers from entering into contracts or agreements with workers that contain certain nondisparagement or nondisclosure clauses and prohibits certain predispute arbitration agreements and postdispute agreements. It also establishes grant programs to (1) prevent and respond to workplace discrimination and harassment, (2) provide legal assistance for low-income workers, and (3) establish a system of legal advocacy in states to protect the rights of workers. The bill further provides employees the right to retain their tips and it increases, in specified annual increments, the minimum wage for tipped employees to match the federal minimum wage for nontipped employees. Additionally, the bill requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to provide specified training and resource materials, establish and convene a harassment prevention task force, and establish an Office of Education and Outreach with regard to prohibited discrimination and harassment in employment. The bill also requires specified studies, reports, and research on prohibited workplace harassment.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1082
BE HEARD in the Workplace Act
Nov 17, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Nov 17, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Nov 1, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-5994
Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1082
    BE HEARD in the Workplace Act


  • November 17, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • November 17, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • November 1, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-5994
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 117-5994: BE HEARD in the Workplace Act

BE HEARD in the Workplace Act

USA117th CongressS-3219| Senate 
| Updated: 11/17/2021
Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination in the Workplace Act or the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act This bill expands protections against discrimination and harassment in the workplace and raises the minimum wage for tipped employees. Specifically, the bill (1) makes it an unlawful employment practice to discriminate against an individual in the workplace based on sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, or a sex stereotype; and (2) provides a statutory definition for what constitutes workplace harassment. Further, these protections apply to all workplaces, regardless of size, and to all workers, including independent contractors, interns, volunteers, and trainees. The bill prohibits employers from entering into contracts or agreements with workers that contain certain nondisparagement or nondisclosure clauses and prohibits certain predispute arbitration agreements and postdispute agreements. It also establishes grant programs to (1) prevent and respond to workplace discrimination and harassment, (2) provide legal assistance for low-income workers, and (3) establish a system of legal advocacy in states to protect the rights of workers. The bill further provides employees the right to retain their tips and it increases, in specified annual increments, the minimum wage for tipped employees to match the federal minimum wage for nontipped employees. Additionally, the bill requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to provide specified training and resource materials, establish and convene a harassment prevention task force, and establish an Office of Education and Outreach with regard to prohibited discrimination and harassment in employment. The bill also requires specified studies, reports, and research on prohibited workplace harassment.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1082
BE HEARD in the Workplace Act
Nov 17, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Nov 17, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Nov 1, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-5994
Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1082
    BE HEARD in the Workplace Act


  • November 17, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • November 17, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • November 1, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-5994
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.
Patty Murray

Patty Murray

Democratic Senator

Washington

Cosponsors (21)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 117-5994: BE HEARD in the Workplace Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted