Congress passes bipartisan bill ending forced arbitration in sexual misconduct cases

Victims of sexual assault and harassment soon will no longer be forced to rely on an independent arbiter to settle their cases, following the Senate’s passage of a bill to end such practices on Thursday.

The Senate approved by voice vote a bill that would end forced arbitration in sexual misconduct cases, just two days after it had passed the House, 335-97. All opposing votes came from Republicans.

“This is one of the most significant workplace reforms in American history,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Democrat. “No longer will survivors of sexual assault or harassment in the workplace come forward to be told that they’re legally forbidden to sue their employer because somewhere buried in their employment contracts was this forced arbitration clause.”