Minnesota Agencies

This task force, along with the full Council on the Economic Status of Women, made recommendations for statutory changes, increased public awareness, and victim support related to sexual harassment, particularly in the workplace.

Recommendations endorsed by the Task Force on Sexual Harassment and by the full Council on the Economic Status of Women address the need for statutory change, additional public awareness, and additional support for victims. Specific recommendations include:

• Amending the state Human Rights Act to include a specific definition of sexual harassment as a prohibited form of sex discrimination in employment and education. The proposed definition is that used by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: "Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sexually motivated physical contact or other verbal or physical conduct or communication of a sexual nature" under certain conditions.
• Amending the state unemployment compensation law to include sexual harassment among other "good causes" for leaving a job, to allow victims who can prove sexual harassment to qualify for unemployment compensation.
• Continuing consideration of ways to meet the following needs: development and distribution of sample procedures for use by employers and educators; educational programs for the general public; referral resources for victims; and awareness training for employers and educators.
• Urging private and public employers and educators to develop policies and procedures, conduct training and raise consciousness In the work and school environment on the issue of sexual harassment.
• Urging labor organizations and their representatives to provide awareness training for their leadership and members, to assist victims of sexual harassment, and to work with management on prevention of sexual harassment.

In 1982, the legislature passed a law related to sexual harassment in the workplace (see Laws 1982, chap. 619).

Rep. Carolyn Rodriguez*, Chair; Senator Linda Berglin*; Donna Boben, Department of Education; Elsa Carpenter*, Employers Association of Greater Minneapolis; Rep. Karen Clark*; Peggy Specktor, Program for Victims of Sexual Assault; Bill Svrluga, Yoplait Yogurt; Diane Vener, Department of Human Rights. 

* also members of the Council on the Economic Status of Women