releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CF78F8E3-D4FC-4FEC-A933-C45B8310E869
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CF78F8E3-D4FC-4FEC-A933-C45B8310E869 | Heitkamp Helps Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Sexual Harassment in the Workplace | 2017-12-07 | 2017 | 2017-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp helped introduce bipartisan legislation to provide increased protections for victims of sexual harassment in the workplace. The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017 would void forced arbitration agreements that prevent sexual harassment survivors from getting the justice they deserve. Heitkamp joined Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and others to introduce the bill. “For too long, victims of sexual harassment and assault in some workplaces have been forced into an arbitration process that sweeps systemic issues of abuse under the rug and denies victims the justice they deserve,” Heitkamp said. “Forced arbitration gives employees no choice in how to legally address mistreatment in the workplace that causes lasting personal and mental pain and damage to their careers. We must end this unfair practice and give all workers full access to justice in the face of sexual harassment and abuse.” If an employee’s contract or employee handbook includes a forced arbitration clause, the employee is likely to have signed away his or her right to a jury trial whether or not they are aware of the clause. Forced arbitration clauses typically prevent victims of sexual harassment from discussing the nature or basis of their complaint – which can keep other employees in the dark about a workplace culture that allows sexual harassment and abuse to continue unabated. Employees are far more likely to win cases that go to trial than cases that go through the arbitration process. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |