News about current legislation affecting workplace rights before the U.S. Congress and the legislatures of all 50 states.
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Health-based hirings get legislators' focus
Source: Sean Cockerham, News Tribune
Date: February 9, 2006
Washington state legislators, who passed a gay civil rights bill earlier this legislative session, are turning
their attention to other kinds of discrimination. A bill banning job discrimination against veterans made it
through the state House on Tuesday. Smokers could be next. Thirty states have "lifestyle discrimination" laws
forbidding most employers from refusing to hire people who engage in legal behaviors off the job, such as
smoking and drinking. [State Rep. Dawn] Morrell wants Washington to join that list. Last week, a House
committee narrowed [her] bill so it would forbid discrimination against only smokers--leaving drinkers and
over-eaters out of luck.
House approves measure to add military personnel to anti-discrimination laws
Source: Mike Baker, Associated Press, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Date: February 8, 2006
Fearing that employers are denying jobs to young veterans, the House has
approved a measure to add military personnel to a [Washington] state anti-discrimination law. The vote came
just a week after the governor signed a similar measure to add gays to the same state law that bans
discrimination in housing, employment, insurance and lending. The measure now heads to the Senate. The bill's
primary sponsor said that employers are repeatedly denying jobs to servicemen out of fear that the military
personnel would be redeployed, or distracted by postwar stress. About 15% of young veterans nationwide are
unemployed--three times the national average.
Microsoft decides to back gay-rights bill
Source: Andrew Garber, Brier Dudley, Seattle Times
Date: May 7, 2005
Capping a two-week brouhaha over Microsoft's fluid position on a state gay-rights
bill, Chief Executive Steve Ballmer reversed course and said the company will support the legislation in the
future. Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee and other supporters of the bill cheered the
move. But people on both sides of the issue said Microsoft has had limited effect on the perennial legislation,
despite national publicity the company received for its flip-flopping. Ballmer, in an e-mail to Microsoft's
U.S. employees, said he decided that encouraging a diverse workplace is an important business issue and should
be part of the company's legislative agenda.
Microsoft Draws Fire for Shift on Gay Rights Bill
Source: David A. Vise, Washington Post
Date: April 26, 2005
Microsoft Corp. has long taken pride in its progressive employment practices. It was one of
the first major companies to provide domestic partner benefits, and it has long included sexual orientation in
its own anti-discrimination policies. But Microsoft's decision to withdraw its support for state legislation
that would have banned discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing, employment and insurance drew sharp
criticism yesterday from those who say the company missed an opportunity to make an important public statement.
Microsoft comes under fire for reversal on gay rights bill
Source: Sarah Kershaw, New York Times
Date: April 22, 2005
Microsoft, at the forefront of corporate gay rights for decades, is coming under fire from gay rights groups,
politicians and its own employees for withdrawing its support for a state bill that would have barred
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Many of the critics accused the company of bowing to
pressure from a prominent evangelical church located a few blocks from Microsoft's sprawling headquarters. The
bill failed by one vote in the State Senate. Gay rights advocates denounced Microsoft, which had supported the
bill for the last two years, for abandoning their cause. Blogs and online chat rooms were buzzing on with
accusations that the company, which has offered benefits to same-sex partners for years, had given in to the
Christian right.
State House Passes Gay Rights Bill
Source: Associated Press, KIROTV
Date: February 18, 2004
On the same day gay
couples lined up outside a San Francisco courthouse to get married, Washington lawmakers took a more cautious
step toward equal rights for gay people. By a 59-39 vote, the state House passed a bill Monday outlawing
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, employment and financial transactions. "It is NOT
about marriage," Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, reassured House members. "It is not about a group of special
Americans demanding something special." Instead, said Murray, the sponsor of House Bill 1809, the bill would
simply afford all citizens the right to "have a job, own a home, and participate in the American dream."
