Congress Bans Mandatory Arbitration of Employee Sexual Assault and Harassment Claims

Congress Bans Mandatory Arbitration of Employee Sexual Assault and Harassment Claims

Companies have increasingly instituted policies requiring employees to bring sexual harassment claims in confidential arbitration rather than in public litigation in the courts.  These policies have resulted in a significant drop in official sexual harassment complaints to state and federal regulators.  Critics of these policies, however, argue that employees fare poorly in arbitrations as compared to cases filed in the courts.

With growing pressure from the #MeToo movement, Congress was spurred to action.  In February 2022, both the House of Representatives and the United States Senate passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act (H.R. 4445), and it was signed into law by President Biden on March 3, 2022.

Key Takeaways:

  • The measure adds a new chapter to Title IX concerning arbitration of disputes involving sexual assault and sexual harassment.
  • The new chapter provision invalidates, at the election of the accuser or class representative, the enforceability of any pre-dispute arbitration agreement or pre-dispute joint-action waiver for cases filed under Federal, Tribal, or State law. 
  • Determination of the application of these provisions to an arbitration agreement, if such application is disputed, must be made under Federal law and by a court and not by an arbitrator. 
  • The Act applies to disputes or claims that arise or accrue on or after the bill is signed into law.

It should be noted that certain states (including New York) already have state laws with such a requirement.

Read the client alert.  

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Kasowitz Benson Torres’ Employment Practices and Litigation Group is comprised of trial-seasoned former prosecutors and other talented litigators who leverage their employment litigation know-how and experience to achieve extraordinary results early in cases, or by taking the case through discovery to trial and verdict.  Our lawyers have significant experience in all areas of employment litigation, including discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims.

Kasowitz’s Government Affairs and Strategic Counsel Practice Group provides public policy advocacy and strategic counsel to individuals, firms, non-profits and trade associations at the intersection of law, business and public policy.

For more information, please contact:

Employment Practices and Litigation Group

Mark W. Lerner
Partner
mlerner@kasowitz.com

Jessica T. Rosenberg
Partner
jrosenberg@kasowitz.com

Government Affairs and Strategic Counsel Practice Group

Clarine Nardi Riddle
Counsel
cnriddle@kasowitz.com

John M. Thomas
Policy Advisor
jmthomas@kasowitz.com