Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Requirements

Sexual harassment in the workplace is unlawful under federal, state, and many local laws. Sexual harassment prevention training is a way for employers to educate employees on relevant laws and company policies prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace.

An increasing number of states, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, New York, Virginia and Washington, require employers to conduct sexual harassment prevention training. Employers in Colorado, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont are strongly encouraged but not required to train their employees.

• Which employers must provide training, based on the size of the employer’s workforce;
• Which employees must receive training (for example, all employees or only supervisors and managers);
• Format and content requirements;
• When the employer must conduct initial training and any retraining of employees; and
• Recordkeeping requirements and penalties for noncompliance.

Even when training is not legally required, training of both supervisors and non-supervisors is recommended because it helps maintain a harassment-free workplace and reduces the risk of legal exposure.

If you have inquiries about state-specific requirements or need assistance with training your employees on sexual harassment prevention, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Rimon Partner, David Mahoney or Human Capital Business Advisor, Alyssa Murphy. We provide both in-person and online training options.

This summary is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice nor does it create an attorney-client relationship with Rimon, P.C. or its affiliates.