Virginia Human Rights Act; discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual harassment.

Virginia Human Rights Act; discrimination onthe basis of sex; sexual harassment. Creates a cause of actionagainst any employer employing more than five but fewer than 15 personswho engages in an unlawful discriminatory act against any employeeon the basis of sex. Under current law, an employee who has beendiscriminated against on the basis of sex may only file an actionagainst his employer if the employee is discharged by the employeron the basis of sex. The bill permits a court, in cases where the employee prevails, to award compensatory or punitive damages andattorney fees not to exceed 25 percent of the amount awarded. Thebill also clarifies that for purposes of the cause of action, discriminationon the basis of sex includes harassment on the basis of sex. The bill defines the types of conduct that amount to harassment on thebasis of sex. The bill contains technical amendments.