‘Me Too’ inspired changes spreading from Olympia to Washington state

The impact of the Me Too movement is playing out across Washington as lawmakers develop statewide recommendations for workplace sexual harassment policies.

Lawmakers are even considering ways to address sexual assault and harassment as a public health issue.

It’s been just over a year since the Me Too movement thrust sexual harassment and assault into headlines across the country and in Washington. It led to several bills passed by the state Legislature last session, aimed at making it easier to report sexual harassment in the workplace and to highlight repeat offenders.

Another bill looked to raise awareness on sexual harassment in the workplace by having the state Human Rights Commission come up with best practices to prevent sexual harassment for employers as well as policies and procedures for investigating complaints.

On Friday, the commission’s Laura Lindstrand told a Senate committee that they have draft proposals following months of meeting with workers, employers, human resource experts, survivor advocates, and others. Now they need public feedback.

Sexual harassment policies

Among the initial recommendations, having a clear and strong policy that makes certain sexual harassment won’t be tolerated with the resources to back it up, highlighting an open door policy, and implementing no-fraternization rules for staff.

If you’re not getting sexual harassment complaints at your company, don’t think everything is fine — it may just mean your policy is weak.

Republican Senator Lynda Wilson, who owns a small business in the 17th District in Clark County, had concerns with that recommendation.

“This kind of makes my blood boil because you’re telling me that because I don’t have this in my workplace, that I’m doing something wrong,” Wilson said.

“Actually, I think the language does not say that,” Lindstrand countered. “The language suggests that just because you don’t have complaints it doesn’t mean that there’s not a problem. It’s not saying that there is defiantly a problem.”

But that type of feedback is what the commission is looking for before it releases final recommendations. It’s asking everyone across the state to take a look at the draft policies and best practices and offer feedback through its website.

The comment period is open through November 30. Feedback will be considered before the final recommendations are posted on the commission and L&I websites early next year. Employers will not be mandated to implement the polices, but are strongly encouraged to or at least use them as guidance.

Me Too and the Legislature

The Me Too effect has also rippled through the state Legislature internally where several lawmakers have been undone by allegations of sexual misconduct.

Republican Senator Joe Fain lost his re-election bid in the 47th District after a Seattle woman, Candace Faber, accused him of raping her a decade ago. The Legislature still plans to have an independent investigator look into the allegations despite Fain’s loss.

Tacoma Democratic Representative David Sawyer was also hit with several allegations of a sexual misconduct and suspended then asked to resign. He refused but just lost his re-election bid.

While Republican Representative Matt Manweller won his re-election — despite multiple allegations of sexual harassment — he promised to resign if he won. Manweller’s strategy was to win so another Republican would be appointed when he resigned.

All three lawmakers deny the allegations.

After an investigative report by local media just over a year ago found a culture of sexual harassment at the state capitol, lawmakers in the Senate and House formed task forces to develop new policies.

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