2023 Sexual Harassment Training Requirements by State (US)
Want to know why sexual harassment prevention training in the United States is necessary?
If so, then this article is for you.
Sexual harassment is common workplace harassment. It is a significant problem faced by employees and companies in today’s workplace.
Furthermore, it leads to:
- Emotional trauma
- Decreased performance
- Expensive and stressful lawsuits
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This is why companies must mandate compliance training against sexual harassment.
Compliance training will offer guidelines for responding to these situations and help build awareness.
They must provide training to employees, supervisors, and managers.
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What Are The United States Harassment Training Requirements?
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued guidelines applicable to organizations in all states.
According to these guidelines, organizations must train employees to understand their responsibilities and rights.
It also states that the organization must reinforce and conduct employee training regularly.
Many states have passed laws requiring and encouraging sexual harassment training.
By prioritizing this training, organizations will be protected from liability in serious and expensive harassment lawsuits and considerably reduce workplace harassment.
What States Require Harassment Training?
Although it is highly recommended that all companies in all states offer and maintain sexual harassment training, not all states in the US have the same training requirements.
In some states, training is recommended but not required, while others have strict and detailed training requirements in place.
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What States Do Not Require Harassment Training?
States in the US where training against harassment is not required but recommended are:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
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What States Do Not Mandate Harassment Training?
Some states don’t require training against harassment. However, they encourage all employers to take the necessary steps to prevent sexual harassment, and possible legal action against the company are:
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
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Is Harassment Training Required By Law?
While there is no training requirement under the law, employers are encouraged to provide training to new employees within one year of employment.
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Which States Require Harassment Training 2023?
Here are the 19 states with the most comprehensive and stringent sexual harassment training requirements:
1. California
California harassment training requirements 2023: Dealing against workplace harassment is mandatory training for companies with fifty or more employees.
Furthermore, the company must provide two hours of training to supervisors within six months of hire and at least once every two years. All public employees must receive training, regardless of how many employees there are.
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2. Connecticut
Effective October 1, 2019, employers with three or more employees must ensure that they arrange two hours of sexual harassment training for employees.
Furthermore, existing employees had to complete the training by October 1, 2020, and all employees hired on or after October 1, 2019, were to receive the training within six months of hire.
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3. Delaware
As of January 1, 2019, employers with fifty or more employees had to provide sexual harassment training for all employees and supervisors—excluding independent contractors and applicants.
The training must be provided for new employees within one year of the commencement date of employment and be interactive.
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4. Florida
Supervisors in executive branch agencies in Florida must receive equal opportunity and affirmative action training, which includes sexual harassment.
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5. Illinois
From January 1, 2020, all employers must provide sexual harassment training to all state employees yearly. The training program must include the following:
A summary of the employer’s responsibilities for investigation, corrective measures, and prevention of sexual harassment.
An explanation of what sexual harassment is
Examples of unlawful sexual harassment
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6. Iowa
Each department’s directors in the Iowa state agency and their employees must attend training on workplace harassment prevention, cultural diversity, and affirmative action.
7. Maine
All employers trading in Maine with fifteen or more employees must provide sexual harassment training to all employees within a year of their employment commencement date. Managers and supervisors must receive additional training.
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8. Michigan
Education and training programs in Michigan must be provided to all labor organizations, employers, and employment agencies by the Department of Civil Rights.
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9. Nevada
Within six months of hire, all Nevada state employees must receive certified harassment training and take an accredited refresher course every two years. Furthermore, employers must order employees to retake a course or take additional courses.
10. New Jersey
All state employees of New Jersey state agencies must take a certified course on sexual harassment within six months of their employment date and a refresher course every two years after that.
11. New Mexico
Primary and secondary education centers in New Mexico must train all school personnel at least once a year.
12. New York
Effective October 9, 2018, all private and public employers in New York City must conduct annual employee anti-harassment training. They also had to distribute a written anti-harassment policy. The deadline for the initial training was October 9, 2019. Training must be interactive and contain the following:
Information on state and federal laws regarding sexual harassment and resources for victims
Examples of sexual harassment and unlawful conduct
An explanation of what sexual harassment is, Information on employees’ rights and where they can report incidents and have complaints resolved
13. North Carolina
All state agencies in North Carolina must create an unlawful harassment plan, which includes sexual harassment training.
14. Oklahoma
All state employees in Oklahoma should receive training on discrimination and equal employment opportunities.
15. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State agency employees must receive sexual harassment training, including workplace discussions, individual counseling, educational videos, and orientation sessions.
16. Tennessee
Each department in Tennessee must be assisted by the state Department of Personnel with planning and delivering sexual harassment prevention training to all public employees.
17. Texas
Within thirty days of the employment date, Texas state employees must receive employment discrimination training, including sexual harassment training. Training must be repeated every two years.
18. Utah
All state employers in Utah must provide sexual harassment training approved by the Department of Human Resources and Risk Management within ninety days of employment. Furthermore, they must provide a refresher training course every three years.
19. Washington
The executive order in Washington determines that every employee must take training on workplace harassment to eliminate sexual harassment.
Conclusion
It is best to ensure that your employees are adequately trained and familiar with sexual harassment prevention training.
Even if the state your business operates in does not actively endorse sexual harassment training, you will avoid expensive lawsuits and ensure that your employees feel safe in their workplace.
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We offer a wide range of online sexual harassment prevention training courses.
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