Tennessee § 50-1-501 - Short title.

§ 50-1-501. Short title.

This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Healthy Workplace Act.” Acts 2014, ch. 997, § 1. Compiler's Notes. Former part 5, §§ 50-1-501 — 50-1-505 , concerning maternity leave, was transferred to § 4-21-408 in 1988. Effective Dates. Acts 2014, ch. 997, § 2. May 22, 2014. Attorney General Opinions. Each “employer” may adopt a policy conforming to T.C.A. § 50-1-503(b) . When the employer is a local governmental entity, such as a county or a municipality, the question of who has authority within that local governmental entity to adopt such a policy is a matter of local law and will depend in each case on the particular charter of the local government, its ordinances, rules, and regulations. OAG 15-01, 2015 Tenn. AG LEXIS 1 (1/6/15). The Healthy Workplace Act of 2014 does not create a new cause of action against state or local employers or against state or local employees for abusive conduct in the workplace. It appears that when a state or local government complies with the policy-adoption requirement of T.C.A. § 50-1-503(b) , that entity would, under certain circumstances, acquire a specific supplement to the immunity already applicable under the Governmental Tort Liability Act (GTLA) and the Tennessee Claims Commission Act. OAG 15-01, 2015 Tenn. AG LEXIS 1 (1/6/15). The Healthy Workplace Act extends to quasi-governmental entities. “Employer” is defined in the Act as any agency, county, metropolitan government, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state. The definition of “agency” in the Act includes all boards, offices, and other agencies of the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of government. OAG 15-01, 2015 Tenn. AG LEXIS 1 (1/6/15).