An Act to protect unpaid interns, volunteers, and independent contractors from sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination

This bill expands Massachusetts anti-discrimination laws to explicitly include unpaid interns, volunteers, and independent contractors. It defines "employer" and "employee" broadly to cover both paid and unpaid work situations, ensuring these groups are protected from discrimination and harassment based on factors such as race, sex, and sexual orientation. The legislation clarifies that while these individuals gain protection against unfair treatment, the new rules do not create additional wage, workers' compensation, or unemployment insurance obligations for the organizations employing them. Additionally, it holds employers liable for harassment occurring in their workplaces if they knew or should have known about the situation and failed to take corrective action, even when the victim is not a traditional employee.