S. 3219 · 117th Congress
BE HEARD in the Workplace Act
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 117th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
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MurraySponsor21 cosponsors · 20 D, 1 I
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Brown
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Baldwin
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Blumenthal
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Booker
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Cardin
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Casey
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Durbin
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Duckworth
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Gillibrand
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Hirono
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Klobuchar
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Kaine
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Luján
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Markey
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Merkley
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Padilla
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Rosen
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Sanders
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Van Hollen
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Wyden
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Warren21 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination in the Workplace Act or the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Nov 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.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: BE HEARD in the Workplace Act
Also known as: Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination in the Workplace Act
Latest action (Nov 17, 2021): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Policy area: Labor and Employment · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Nov 17, 2021
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.