Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Reminder

According to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s 2020 Annual report, over 4,000 complaints were filed on bases such as sexual harassment, sex/gender, sexual orientation, age, gender identity/expression, race, and disability. Unfortunately, employees continue to experience harassment because of their sexual orientation or other protected characteristics, even in the face of increased awareness of harassment and its negative effects. Biannual harassment prevention training is mandated by law as part of the state's efforts to mitigate harassment within the workplace and is intended to inform or remind employees about appropriate and inappropriate workplace conduct. For you, what does this mean?

If you employ at least five employees you are required by California law to offer nonsupervisory employees a minimum of one hour of training, and supervisory employees two hours of training every two years. By providing real-world examples and illustrating how these problems could arise in the workplace, the trainings offer guidance on preventing and managing unlawful workplace harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and abusive behavior. 

To comply with the training obligation, you are required to retrain your employees every two years. The training must cover both information and practical guidance on state and federal laws that prohibit sexual harassment, as well as the prevention and correction of such behavior. Additionally, the training must provide information on preventing abusive behavior and harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Real-world examples of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation should also be included in the training to better prepare your employees. 

You can conduct in-person trainings in a classroom environment, deliver training electronically through a supplier like Cal/OSHA, or use any other efficient, interactive approach. Either an individual or group presentation may be used to complete the course. Contact our consulting team if you're considering outsourcing; we can offer thorough, on-site training for supervisors and employees that will satisfy requirements and guarantee compliance.