January 19, 2024 - Introduced by Senators Carpenter, Hesselbein, Agard and Spreitzer, cosponsored by Representatives Bare, Joers, C. Anderson, J. Anderson, Clancy, Conley, Considine, Emerson, Madison, Myers, Palmeri, Ratcliff, Shelton and Subeck. Referred to Committee on Labor, Regulatory Reform, Veterans and Military Affairs.
SB934,,22An Act to amend 102.03 (2), 102.81 (5), 102.82 (1) and 814.04 (intro.); and to create 102.80 (1) (dm), 102.81 (4g) and 103.08 of the statutes; relating to: prohibiting abusive work environments and creating a cause of action. SB934,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill prohibits abusive work environments and allows an individual who has been subjected to such an environment to bring a civil action.
Under current law, worker’s compensation is generally the exclusive remedy of an employee against his or her employer, a coemployee, or the employer’s worker’s compensation insurer for an injury sustained while performing services from and incidental to employment.
This bill provides an exception to that exclusive remedy provision. Under the bill, an employee who alleges that he or she has been injured by being subjected to an abusive work environment or by being subjected to retaliation or a threat of retaliation for opposing an abusive work environment or for initiating, or in any manner participating in, an investigation, action, or proceeding to enforce the right not to be subjected to an abusive work environment (“unlawful employment practice”) may bring an action in circuit court against the employer or employee who allegedly engaged in the unlawful employment practice for relief the court considers appropriate. The aggrieved employee must commence an action within one year after the last act constituting the unlawful employment practice occurred.