BILL NUMBER: S381
SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to workplace mental health
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require employers to provide employees with information
on mental health issues and resources and to destigmatize mental health
in the workplace.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill requires the Commissioner of Labor, in consulta-
tion with the Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health, and the Divi-
sion of Human Rights to create and distribute written materials regard-
ing mental health conditions and available resources to employees. The
bill requires these written materials to include at a minimum, signs and
symptoms of mental health concerns, hotlines, websites, or other
resources. Furthermore, the bill requires these aforementioned agencies
to translate these written materials in at least twelve of the most
common languages spoken by individuals with limited English-proficiency.
Lastly, the bill requires these agencies to collaboratively work to
establish voluntary guidelines for addressing mental health conditions
in the workplace.
Section 2 of this bill related to the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Adults spend most of their lives in the workplace. Due to increased
pressures at work, the dissolution of home and work due to new technolo-
gies allowing work from home, and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important
now more than ever to focus on employee's mental health.
Employees who undergo physical and mental health problems, also experi-
ence reduced productivity levels at work. According to the World Health
Organization, at least one trillion dollars per year is spent in the
global economy because of depression and anxiety. By providing mental
health resources in the workplace and creating workplace websites,
portals, and/or guidelines, these resources can help reduce the stigma
surrounding mental health by making it something common and established.
As a result, this bill will provide employees with the proper tools to
get the help they need while also showing employees that their mental
health issues matter and are important and recognized by their employer.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021: S7577 Referred to Rules.
2022: S7577B Passed Senate.
2023-24: S1860 Passed Senate.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
TBD.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This law will take effect on the one-hundred-eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.