Bill Text: NY S06438 | 2015-2016 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Bill 6438 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Establishes a civil cause of action for employees who are subjected to an abusive work environment.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-13 - REFERRED TO LABOR [S06438 Detail]

Download: New_York-2015-S06438-Introduced.html



                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          6438
                    IN SENATE
                                    January 13, 2016
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
        AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing healthy work-
          places
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section  1.  The  labor law is amended by adding a new article 20-D to
     2  read as follows:
     3                                 ARTICLE 20-D
     4                             HEALTHY WORKPLACES
     5  Section 760. Legislative findings and intent.
     6          761. Definitions.
     7          762. Abusive work environment.
     8          763. Employer liability.
     9          764. Employee liability.
    10          765. Affirmative defenses.
    11          766. Remedies.
    12          767. Enforcement.
    13          768. Effect on collective bargaining agreements.
    14          769. Effect of other laws.
    15    § 760. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature  hereby  finds
    16  that  the  social and economic well-being of the state is dependent upon
    17  healthy and productive employees. At least one-third  of  all  employees
    18  directly  experience  health  endangering  workplace bullying, abuse and
    19  harassment during their working lives.   Such form  of  mistreatment  is
    20  four  times  more  prevalent  than  sexual harassment alone.   Workplace
    21  bullying, mobbing and harassment can inflict serious harm upon  targeted
    22  employees,  including feelings of shame and humiliation, severe anxiety,
    23  depression, suicidal tendencies, impaired immune systems,  hypertension,
    24  increased  risk  of cardiovascular disease, and symptoms consistent with
    25  post-traumatic stress disorder.
    26    Furthermore, the legislature finds that abusive work environments  can
    27  have  serious  consequences  for  employers,  including reduced employee
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07296-01-5