President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a law to protect the rights of victims of sexual harassment in the workplace, allowing them to seek justice in court, accompanied by one of the country’s most prominent activists.
Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox News host, has been working to end the use of coercive arbitration proceedings since network chief Roger Isles sued him for sexual harassment.
“A dear friend of mine said to me, ‘You know, Gretchen’s going to be good out of this,’ and then I didn’t quite believe her,” she said.
“But you know what?” She was right.
“Something great came from my decision to go out and stand with millions of others to say that it’s not good for companies to hide harassment, assault.”
Biden signed the Law on the Cessation of Compulsory Arbitration for Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment, which prohibits employment contracts from forcing people to settle claims of sexual violence or harassment through private arbitration proceedings instead of in court.
Gretchen Carlson (seen behind Biden’s shoulder) joins President Joe Biden and other activists in the East House of the White House for Thursday’s signing ceremony
Carlson’s lawsuit against Fox News boss Roger Isles in 2016 was one of the first high-profile cases of the #metoo movement. He was forced to resign after dozens of other women announced themselves
Employers often take advantage of the process, which prevents accusations of misconduct from going public.
The law is retroactive, freeing individuals who have been bound by the language of arbitration to sue their harassers.
Biden called it an “important day” for justice and fairness in the workplace.
“For those who have experienced sexual harassment or assault, today you will have a right that you did not have yesterday,” the president said.
Approximately 60 million workers are bound by forced arbitration clauses included in their employment contracts, and many are unaware that the language exists, Biden said.
Private arbitration prevents them from finding out who else may have suffered such humiliation.
As a result of the #MeToo movement, widespread practice has been criticized for forcing employees to sue without a jury, the opportunity to appeal an arbitrator’s decision or the sunlight in a public trial.
Biden said giving absolute power to employers to decide how to deal with sexual violence or harassment is not the way justice should work.
“Some survivors will want their day in court, and that should be their choice and the choice of no one else,” Biden said at a ceremony at the White House in the East Hall, where he signed the bill.
Carlson, 55, said it was a great way to start Women’s History Month.
“I am here today on behalf of the millions of American workers who have been silent to this day – silenced because they simply had the courage to say that something bad happened at work, and in return they were bypassed in the secret chamber of arbitration.” she said.
“I could never have imagined that five years ago, after I filed a harassment case against the chairman and CEO of Fox News, Roger Isles, that this day of real change could actually come.”
Ayles was chairman and CEO of Fox News when Carlson accused him of sexual evaluation. Fox News reportedly settled a $ 20 million lawsuit and a public apology
She filed a lawsuit in 2016, prompting dozens of other women to file their own complaints against him.
Ayles resigned soon after.
Carlson settled his $ 20 million lawsuit in one of the first high-profile cases of what will become the #metoo movement.
She choked as she described the struggle and thanked her family.
“I often say that I did all this for my children and nothing would be complete without them today,” she said, pouring tea.
“Kaya and Christian, thank you for your courage and for allowing your mother to pass on my infectious courage to you.
Proponents of the arbitration process, including business groups, argue that this is a faster and cheaper way to resolve disputes than through lengthy litigation.
The legislation enjoyed broad, bipartisan support in a divided Congress, allowing the Senate to adopt it unanimously, a procedure that is almost never used for meaningful legislation, especially one that affects tens of millions. The house passed Bill 335-97 in February.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, DNY, which focuses on combating sexual harassment and sexual abuse in the military, initially introduced the bill in 2017 with Senator Lindsey Graham, RS.C.