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Senator John Kennedy to Introduce Legislation to Prohibit Non-Disclosures in Sexual Harassment Settlements (For Public Officials/Employees)


Senator John Kennedy (no, not John F. Kennedy...this is John N. Kennedy, the Republican Senator from Louisiana) is expected to introduce legislation in Congress shortly that would prohibit the use of non-disclosures in sexual harassment settlements when the alleged perpetrator is a public official or employee.

In a speech on the Senate floor yesterday, Senator Kennedy advocated against sexual harassment and made a point of criticizing the entertainment industry as a prevalent source of sexual harassment complaints.  When the text of Senator Kennedy's bill is introduced, it is expected to increase transparency around sexual harassment settlements by allowing victims to speak out (as a result of a non-disclosure not prohibiting this discussion.)  As a result, by removing this restriction on victims of sexual harassment from speaking out, the expectation follows that there would then be more of a free flowing discussion of other sexual harassment complaints that might have gone unreported.

As many readers are aware, sexual harassment matters in the workplace have become even more of a hot button issue over the past few months.  It will be interesting to see whether Senator Kennedy's planned legislation can find enough support in Congress or if some Senators and Representatives withhold their vote (whether it be because they do not think Senator Kennedy's bill goes far enough...or for other reasons.)


For additional information:  https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/09/kennedy-hollywood-sexual-harassment-1263676

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