Employment Amendment (No. 2) Act

What this bill does

This bill makes major updates to Bermuda's workplace laws, adding new protections against bullying and sexual harassment, improving employee benefits like meal breaks and bereavement leave, and changing how employers can hire and fire workers. The changes aim to modernize employment standards and give workers stronger rights.

If passed (voted YES)

• All employers must provide written anti-bullying and sexual harassment policies to employees and ensure 30-minute meal breaks for shifts over 5 hours
• Workers get expanded bereavement leave (including grandparents/grandchildren), longer time to file workplace complaints (6 months instead of 3), and higher compensation for unfair dismissal
• Employers face stricter rules for firing workers, including mandatory written warnings and specific timeframes for termination decisions

If rejected (voted NO)

• Current workplace laws remain unchanged, with no required anti-bullying/harassment policies or guaranteed meal breaks
• Bereavement leave stays limited to immediate family only, and workers have just 3 months to file complaints about workplace violations
• Employers continue operating under existing hiring/firing procedures without the new notification and consultation requirements

Who it affects

This bill affects all employers and employees in Bermuda, with particularly significant impacts on workers who have experienced workplace harassment or unfair treatment. Both local Bermudians and work permit holders will benefit from the enhanced protections and expanded rights.