The bill proposed to end forced arbitrations now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
Forced Arbitrations come into play when an employee has to sign a contract provided by the employer, agreeing to arbitrate any disputes they face within the organization. Once subject to arbitration, they cannot sue the employer if any dispute arises.
With the passing of this notable bill, employees who become victims of sexual harassment cannot be forced to settle their cases through private arbitrations, which often is reported to favor the alleged perpetrators. Employees can now file suit against the accused in court with legal representation or even opt for public arbitration.
It all started in 2016, when Fox News Anchor Gretchen Carlson tried to file a sexual harassment case and discovered she was unable to take the claim to the public. Shocked after the revelation, Carlson joined hands with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) in 2017, in an attempt to make a difference in this practice.
As a result on Monday, the Ending Forced Arbitration Act was passed with a majority voice vote, passing the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.
“This is among the largest workplace reforms, certainly in our lifetimes,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., stated. This poses a huge step for the U.S. working environment, benefitting 60 million workers under the clauses.
