In Massachusetts, the law requires employers to adopt a written policy against sexual harassment. The employer's policy must include for example notice to employees that sexual harassment in the workplace is unlawful and that it is unlawful to retaliate against an employee for filing a complaint of sexual harassment. The policy should also assert the employer's commitment to investigate any complaint of sexual harassment.
Massachusetts employers are also required to provide their sexual harassment policy to employees annually and to all new employees upon hire. If you are using the most recent version of our handbook product (which contains a Massachusetts specific sexual harassment policy) we recommend that you distribute and employees should acknowledge receipt of this policy. A stand-alone copy of the policy is also available on FormSource in the State Appendix section.
Alternatively, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination has adopted a model sexual harassment policy that employers may use to comply with the requirement to have a policy. It can be accessed by clicking here.
As always, feel free to contact your Human Resource Business Partner if you have any questions.