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H.B. 292

             1     

ABUSIVE WORKPLACE POLICIES ACT

             2     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Stephen E. Sandstrom

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Utah Labor Code to require policies prohibiting certain
             10      workplace practices by public employers.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    enacts the Abusive Workplace Policies Act, including:
             14              .    defining terms;
             15              .    requiring a policy against certain conduct;
             16              .    imposing requirements for a policy;
             17              .    allowing for affirmative defenses; and
             18              .    providing for civil enforcement.
             19      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             20          None
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          None
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      ENACTS:
             25          34A-12-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             26          34A-12-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             27          34A-12-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953


             28          34A-12-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             29          34A-12-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             30          34A-12-203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31          34A-12-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32     
             33      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             34          Section 1. Section 34A-12-101 is enacted to read:
             35     
CHAPTER 12. ABUSIVE WORKPLACE POLICIES ACT

             36     
Part 1. General Provisions

             37          34A-12-101. Title.
             38          This chapter is known as the "Abusive Workplace Policies Act."
             39          Section 2. Section 34A-12-102 is enacted to read:
             40          34A-12-102. Definitions.
             41          As used in this chapter:
             42          (1) (a) "Abusive conduct" means conduct that a reasonable person would find hostile
             43      on the basis of the severity, nature, and frequency of the conduct.
             44          (b) "Abusive conduct" includes:
             45          (i) repeated infliction of verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults,
             46      and epithets;
             47          (ii) verbal or physical conduct of a threatening, intimidating, or humiliating nature;
             48          (iii) the sabotage or undermining of an employee's work performance; or
             49          (iv) an attempt to exploit an employee's known psychological or physical vulnerability.
             50          (2) "Abusive workplace" means a workplace in which a person acts with malice to
             51      subject an employee to abusive conduct so severe that it causes tangible harm to the employee.
             52          (3) "Adverse employment action" includes:
             53          (a) a termination;
             54          (b) a constructive discharge;
             55          (c) a demotion;
             56          (d) an unfavorable reassignment;
             57          (e) a failure to promote;
             58          (f) a disciplinary action; or


             59          (g) a reduction in compensation.
             60          (4) "Conduct" includes an act, a failure to act, or both.
             61          (5) "Constructive discharge" means that:
             62          (a) an employee reasonably believes that the employee is subject to abusive conduct;
             63          (b) the employee resigns because of that abusive conduct;
             64          (c) before resigning, the employee informs the employer of the abusive conduct; and
             65          (d) the employer fails to take reasonable steps to correct the situation.
             66          (6) "Employee" means an individual under a contract of hire with an employer.
             67          (7) (a) "Employer" means:
             68          (i) a federal, state, or local government agency; or
             69          (ii) an entity that receives money from a federal, state, or local government agency.
             70          (b) "Employer" includes an agent of an employer.
             71          (8) "Malice" means the desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another.
             72          (9) "Neutral body" means an entity that has at least a majority of the voting members
             73      who are not involved in the employment setting at issue.
             74          (10) "Physical harm" is the material impairment of an individual's physical health or
             75      bodily integrity, as established by competent evidence.
             76          (11) "Psychological harm" means a material impairment of an individual's mental
             77      health, as established by competent evidence.
             78          (12) "Tangible harm" means:
             79          (a) physical harm; or
             80          (b) psychological harm.
             81          Section 3. Section 34A-12-103 is enacted to read:
             82          34A-12-103. Scope of chapter.
             83          (1) This chapter does not exempt or relieve a person from a liability, duty, or penalty
             84      provided by another law of this state.
             85          (2) This chapter does not create a remedy for abusive conduct or an abusive workplace.
             86          Section 4. Section 34A-12-201 is enacted to read:
             87     
Part 2. Policies Against Abusive Workplace

             88          34A-12-201. Policy against abusive workplace required.
             89          (1) On and after July 1, 2011, an employer shall adopt a policy that provides that:


             90          (a) a person may not subject an employee to an abusive workplace; and
             91          (b) a person may not take an adverse employment action in any manner against an
             92      employee who:
             93          (i) opposes conduct that is a violation of Subsection (1)(a);
             94          (ii) engages in reasonable conduct to prevent conduct that is illegal or unethical; or
             95          (iii) makes a charge, testifies, assists, or participates in an investigation or proceeding
             96      under this chapter, including:
             97          (A) an internal complaint or proceeding;
             98          (B) an arbitration or mediation proceeding; or
             99          (C) a legal action.
             100          (2) A policy required by this section shall comply with Section 34A-12-202 .
             101          Section 5. Section 34A-12-202 is enacted to read:
             102          34A-12-202. Procedural requirements for policy.
             103          A policy required under Section 34A-12-201 shall:
             104          (1) provide a procedure for:
             105          (a) filing a complaint by an aggrieved employee; and
             106          (b) taking action on the basis of a complaint, including designating a neutral body to
             107      take action on a complaint;
             108          (2) expressly authorize that, in examining whether abusive conduct exists, a neutral
             109      body may weigh the severity, nature, and frequency of the conduct, including an inference of
             110      malice if one or more of the following factors exist:
             111          (a) an outward expression of hostility;
             112          (b) harmful conduct inconsistent with an employer's legitimate business interests;
             113          (c) a continuation of harmful, illegitimate conduct after the aggrieved employee:
             114          (i) requests that the conduct cease; or
             115          (ii) demonstrates outward signs of emotional or physical distress in the face of the
             116      conduct; or
             117          (d) attempts to exploit an aggrieved employee's known psychological or physical
             118      vulnerability; and
             119          (3) provide one or more remedies that address:
             120          (a) preventing abusive conduct in the future; and


             121          (b) remedying a tangible harm to an aggrieved employee.
             122          Section 6. Section 34A-12-203 is enacted to read:
             123          34A-12-203. Affirmative defenses allowed.
             124          A policy required by Section 34A-12-201 may provide for one or more affirmative
             125      defenses, including providing an affirmative defense if:
             126          (1) an employer exercises reasonable care to prevent and promptly correct abusive
             127      conduct; and
             128          (2) the aggrieved employee unreasonably fails to take advantage of appropriate
             129      preventive or corrective opportunities.
             130          Section 7. Section 34A-12-301 is enacted to read:
             131     
Part 3. Civil Enforcement

             132          34A-12-301. Private right of action.
             133          (1) A person may enforce this chapter solely by a private right of action.
             134          (2) (a) A person may file a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain
             135      relief under this chapter.
             136          (b) A person may not commence an action under this chapter more than one year after
             137      the last conduct that constitutes the alleged prohibited workplace practice.
             138          (c) A person may not bring a class action under this chapter.
             139          (3) If a court finds that an employer fails to have a policy that complies with this
             140      chapter, the court may award:
             141          (a) $500;
             142          (b) attorney fees; and
             143          (c) litigation costs.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-10-11 11:26 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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