Recently, Vermont enacted a new law expanding the protection of the state’s law against sexual harassment to all individuals performing work or services and working agreements beyond the employer-employee relationship. (21 V.S.A . § 495h). The new law requires employers to post the updated Sexual Harassment is Illegal posting which includes provisions of the new law.
The Sexual Harassment is Illegal posting has been revised to reflect that:
- the sexual harassment protection applies to all “individuals engaged to perform work or services.” This provision protects unpaid interns and independent contractors.
- the definition of sexual harassment means submission to conduct of a sexual nature upon which “work” is conditioned or “work-related” decisions are made
- the prohibition of retaliation protects all individuals, not just employees
- the employer’s policy against sexual harassment applies to all individuals, not just employees
- the employer’s written sexual harassment policy can be obtained from the individual designated to receive reports of sexual harassment
- individuals can use the updated contact information to report sexual harassment to the appropriate agency
