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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Senate Measure Would Increase Protections For Workers Experiencing Sexual Harrassment

A measure approved in the Illinois Senate would help reduce barriers that discourage victims of harassment to come forward in the private sector.
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A measure approved in the Illinois Senate would help reduce barriers that discourage victims of harassment to come forward in the private sector.

Some Illinois lawmakers want more protections for employees who are sexually harassed in private sector jobs. 

A measure approved in the Illinois Senate would help reduce barriers that discourage victims of harassment to come forward in the private sector. 

Listen to the story.

Part of the plan would limit the power of non-disclosure agreements — which advocates say might often be used as a legal weapon against a person being harassed.  

State Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) said such agreements should exist as a confidentiality tool — if a victim needs it. “We don’t want a situation where NDAs or non-disparagement clauses act in itself as silencers, which then turns into the protection of the perpetrator,” she said. 

State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) said the plan would also help prevent a union representative from representing both a victim and the alleged harasser during an investigation. The idea, he said, is to encourage third-party representation. 

“We heard from victims — that they felt silenced, they felt coerced and threatened, intimidated into not coming forward or not cooperating in the employer’s disciplinary process, thus the harasser remains without consequence,” Curran said. 

Another provision would give contract employees legal protections against harassment. 

Last year, lawmakers passed measures aimed at stopping harassment inside state government. Still, some say more is needed to ensure survivors of sexual harassment have the information needed to file complaints across all industries. 

Copyright 2019 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

Daisy reports on various assignments for NPR Illinois. She graduated from the Public Affairs Reporting master’s degree program at the University of Illinois Springfield, where she spent time covering the legislative session for NPR Illinois' Illinois Issues. Daisy interned then researched for the Chicago Reporter. She obtained an associate degree in French language from Harry S Truman College and a bachelor's degree in communications from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Before coming to Springfield, Daisy worked in communication roles for several Chicago non-profits. Daisy is from Chicago where she attended Lane Tech High School.
Daisy Contreras
Daisy reports on statehouse issues for our Illinois Issues project. She's currently a Public Affairs Reporting graduate program student at the University of Illinois Springfield. She graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology with an associates degrees from Truman College. Daisy is from Chicago where she attended Lane Tech High School.