Harassment: Massachusetts

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Authors: Daniel Blake and Justin Sheldon

Summary

• The Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Law prohibits sexual harassment. See Harassment Under the Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Law.
• In order to file a claim for sexual harassment, a complaint must generally file a claim with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. See Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
• Massachusetts requires employers to have a sexual harassment policy in place and strongly encourages sexual harassment training. See Sexual Harassment Policy and Training.
• Employers are more vulnerable to liability under Massachusetts law than they are under Title VII because a key defense available to employers facing a Title VII action is not available to employers facing a sexual harassment claim brought under state law. See Employer Defenses.