Sacramento –Assembly Bill 9, The Stop Harassment and Reporting Extension (SHARE) Act heads to the Governor for consideration after passing out of the Assembly. The SHARE Act introduced by Assemblymember Eloise Reyes (D-San Bernardino) extends the timeline to bring forward a complaint of workplace harassment and discrimination from one year to three years.
“It can take significant time for victims to come forward as they may fear retaliation, or falsely believe the harassment will stop.” Assemblymember Reyes continued, “Victims should not be prevented from asserting their rights because of a deadline that hasn’t changed since it was created in 1963. One year is not enough for someone who has experienced workplace harassment. We give businesses three years for a breach of contract. We give injured persons two years to file a civil action. It is crucial that victims of harassment have adequate time to seek justice.”
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) is designed to protect employees from workplace harassment, discrimination, and retaliation based on protected characteristics such as sex and gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, age, religion, disability, and more. Often, harassment based on gender, race, religious preferences or other protected characteristics leads to, or is connected with, sexual harassment.
Under current law (Government Code § 12960) a victim of harassment must file a claim with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing within one year from the date of the last incident of harassment. This filing requirement will be extended under the SHARE Act.
Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes represents Assembly District 47 which includes the cities of Fontana, Rialto, Colton, Grand Terrace, San Bernardino and the unincorporated areas of Muscoy and Bloomington.
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