California is one of the few states that requires private employers to conduct sexual harassment training for all employees. All public employers, and private employers that do business in California and have 50 or more employees must provide sexual harassment training every 2 years. Employees include both full and part-time employees, contractors and temporary workers. The training must be 2 hours for supervisory employees and 1 hour for employees in non-supervisory positions.
There are many benefits to sexual harassment training. Your employees will be educated on current laws and regulations regarding sexual harassment, which will reduce your risk of sexual harassment allegations or lawsuits that can be costly and harm your professional reputation.
Training formats
For the most part, you have a choice as to the format of your sexual harassment training. California law allows traditional in-person training in a classroom, computer-based training, training via a webinar, or a combination of all three methods. The training is meant to be “effective and interactive”.
Hybrid formats that combine lectures with interactive activities often work best. Role playing may help employees better understand the concepts they are learning about. Although webinar or computer-based training is acceptable, the effectiveness of the training due to the passive nature of those techniques may lessened.
Keep detailed records of your training
Once the training is complete, you must keep records of the training for 2 years. The records must include specific information, such as the date the training took place, the sign-in sheet and the names of all trainers and attendees. They must specify the type of training and include copies of all written and recorded materials, as well as a record of all questions asked, and any certificates of completion.
There are many rules regarding how to choose qualified trainers and the what the training content must include. It is common for employers to find the array of rules and requirements overwhelming. Seeking guidance from a professional can help you ensure your sexual harassment training meets all legal requirements.