Back in November, we reported the United States House voted to pass the Speak Out Act aimed to restore the voices of victims of sexual harassment and assault. The bill previously passed the U.S. Senate in September and President Biden signed it into law on December 7, 2022.
With so much information available on the SOA, it can be hard to fully understand what this new law will mean to your own organization. To make it easier, we’ve sifted through the latest content and honed in on three resources that offer interesting insights with a variety of perspectives.
Forbes: How the Speak Out Act will help victims of workplace sexual harassment
Not only does this article offer an overview of the legislation itself, it includes insight on how it applies to pre-dispute non-disparagement and nondisclosure provisions. It also provides several scenarios as examples of how in fact the SOA can support victims of harassment in the workplace as long as they're made aware of it.
Littler: President Biden enacts Speak Out Act curtailing the use of pre-dispute non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses involving sexual assault and harassment claims
This piece from our partners at Littler specifically advises employers on what agreements and policies should be reviewed in response to the Act. It also breaks down terminology used throughout the law, and what it means exactly.
Apple Podcast: Employment Law This Week
In this episode of Employment Law This Week, legal experts discuss how the Speak Out Act pays homage to the fifth anniversary of the #MeToo movement, outline the enhanced implications of the California Privacy Rights Act, and comment on the record-breaking numbers set by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) whistleblower program.
