{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Legislation","name":"To deter, prevent, reduce, and respond to harassment in the workplace, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, and harassment based on protected categories; and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the tax treatment of amounts related to employment discrimination and harassment in the workplace, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, and harassment based on protected categories.","description":"

Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace Harassment through Education and Reporting Act or the EMPOWER Act

This bill makes it an unlawful practice (with exceptions regarding certain settlement or separation agreements) for an employer to: (1) enter into a contract with an employee or applicant, as a condition of employment, promotion, compensation, benefits, or change in employment status or contractual relationship, or as a term, condition, or privilege of employment, if that contract contains a nondisparagement or nondisclosure clause that covers workplace harassment; and (2) enforce, or attempt to enforce, a nondisparagement clause or nondisclosure clause.

Notwithstanding signing any nondisparagement or nondisclosure clause, an employee or applicant retains any right that person would otherwise have had to report a concern about workplace harassment to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and other specified agencies, and any right that person would otherwise have had to bring an action in a court of the United States.

The bill: (1) sets forth enforcement powers of the EEOC and various entities, and the jurisdiction of U.S. courts, regarding workplace harassment; and (2) makes specified procedures and remedies applicable.

The EEOC shall: (1) establish a confidential tip-line that supplements its existing process for submitting a charge of discrimination, and (2) provide for the development and dissemination of workplace training programs and information regarding workplace harassment, including sexual harassment.

The Internal Revenue Code is amended to modify the tax treatment of amounts related to employment discrimination and workplace harassment.

","legislationIdentifier":"HR 6406","legislationType":"Bill","legislationLegalForce":"NotInForce","legislationJurisdiction":"USA","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lois Frankel","url":"https://legisdaily.com/mp/lois-frankel-us"}],"about":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Labor and Employment"},"keywords":"Administrative law and regulatory procedures, Administrative remedies, Assault and harassment offenses, Civil actions and liability, Congressional officers and employees, Contracts and agency, Corporate finance and management, Crime victims, Employment and training programs, Employment discrimination and employee rights, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management, Government information and archives, Government liability, Government studies and investigations, Income tax deductions, Income tax exclusion, Labor-management relations, Legal fees and court costs, Library of Congress, Marketing and advertising, Merit Systems Protection Board, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination, Sex offenses, State and local government operations, Tax administration and collection, taxpayers, Wages and earnings","dateModified":"2025-04-23T00:00:00.000Z","url":"https://legisdaily.com/bill/USA-115-HR-6406"}