Minnesota Could Make Harassment Easier to Show (1)

Victims of sexual harassment could have an easier time making their legal claims in Minnesota courts under potential first-in-the-nation legislation gaining momentum in the state legislature.

Minnesota would become the first state to reject the “severe or pervasive” legal standard if the state approves House File 4459.

Under federal law and U.S. Supreme Court precedent, workers alleging on-the-job harassment must prove that the conduct was particularly offensive enough or occurred frequently enough to create a hostile workplace. The state proposal specifies that such a showing isn’t required.

The bill would essentially relieve employees of the legal threshold established by ...