We are calling upon our elected officials to support the BE HEARD Act as a crucial policy that would provide new protections against harassment for workers, while also safeguarding existing discrimination laws. prevent and address workplace harassment and discrimination. This bill would provide much-needed updates to our labor and civil rights laws to make an incredible difference for working women of color and their families.
The BE HEARD Act would:
- Expand workplace protections for employees at small businesses, independent contractors, interns, fellows, volunteers, and trainees.
- Eliminate the tipped minimum wage, which can make workers more susceptible to harassment.
- Require workplaces to implement prevention strategies, including nondiscrimination policies and trainings, and provide resources to assist employers in preventing and addressing harassment.
- Support research and data collection on workplace harassment.
Stronger workplace protections against harassment and discrimination are essential to creating a future where working women of color, nonbinary people, and our families can thrive on our own terms without worrying about economic hardships. When workers face harassment, it impacts their experience in the workplace, and ultimately, their financial stability and security.
Women of color and LGBTQ+ workers’ experiences with workplace harassment are long rooted in systemic racism, sexism, and classism. They are more likely to experience larger pay gaps than their peers, are more likely to be the primary or sole breadwinners in their families, have been affected by the pandemic job losses and care responsibilities, and are overrepresented in low-wage jobs. It’s time for Congress to make it clear that discrimination and harassment have no place in the workplace.
