# BE HEARD in the Workplace Act Summary
This comprehensive bill strengthens workplace protections against discrimination and harassment. It affects millions of American workers across private companies, federal agencies, and state/local governments.
**What the bill does:**
The legislation establishes mandatory nondiscrimination policies for employers with 15 or more employees, requires discrimination prevention training, and funds research on workplace harassment through national surveys and studies. It clarifies that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination are forms of sex discrimination, extends statute of limitations for filing complaints from 180-300 days to 4 years, and expands harassment protections to independent contractors, interns, and volunteers. The bill prohibits nondisclosure agreements that silence victims of harassment and discrimination, bans mandatory arbitration agreements that prevent workers from joining class-action lawsuits, and increases the tipped minimum wage gradually toward the regular minimum wage. It also raises the employer size threshold under civil rights laws from 15 to 1 employee, making very small employers subject to the law.
**Who it affects:**
Workers (employees and independent contractors), small and large employers, federal contractors, federal employees, tipped workers in restaurants and hospitality, and domestic workers. The bill specifically requires federal contractors to disclose labor and civil rights violations and establishes new grant programs for nonprofit organizations providing legal assistance to workers facing employment discrimination.
**Key funding and timelines:**
The bill authorizes "such sums as necessary" for EEOC operations, research studies (due within 1-3 years), and new grant programs. Employers must adopt nondiscrimination policies within one year of enactment. The tipped minimum wage increase begins within three months of enactment and continues annually until reaching the regular minimum wage. Federal contractors must comply with disclosure requirements within one year.
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