What Is California Sexual Harassment Training?
California sexual harassment training is a legal requirement for employers with 5 or more employees in the state of California. It's designed to prevent sexual harassment and abusive conduct in the workplace by educating employees about their rights and responsibilities.
What Are the Legal Requirements for Harassment Prevention Training for California Employers?
Under Senate Bill 1343 (SB 1343), California law requires employers with 5 or more employees to provide sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training to all employees. This includes full-time, part-time, and temporary employees, as well as independent contractors.
Training Content
The training must cover definitions, examples, reporting procedures, employer's responsibilities, bystander intervention, and remedies and resources.
Compliance With Federal Laws
Organizations must adhere to all applicable federal laws and regulations, such as those related to equal employment opportunity, wage and hour standards, and workplace safety.
Policy Development
Organizations should develop and implement clear, comprehensive policies that address various aspects of workplace conduct, including harassment prevention, anti-discrimination, and ethical behavior.
Additional Requirements
The training must be interactive and engaging. It should be accessible to employees with disabilities. Employers must maintain records of training completion for at least two years.
How Often Is Sexual Harassment Training Required in California?
California employers with 5 or more employees must provide sexual harassment prevention training to all employees every two years.
How Long Is California Sexual Harassment Training?
The minimum training duration depends on the employee's role. Non-supervisory employees must receive at least 1 hour of training, while supervisory employees must receive at least 2 hours of training.
Who Should You Report Sexual Harassment to in California?
Employees experiencing sexual harassment in California have multiple reporting options. Supervisor: It's often the first point of contact, though not always ideal if the supervisor is the harasser. Human Resources (HR) Department: Dedicated to handling workplace complaints and investigations. Designated company representative: Some companies have specific individuals trained to receive complaints. DFEH (Department of Fair Employment and Housing): The state agency enforcing anti-discrimination laws. Employees can file a complaint directly with the DFEH. EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission): The federal agency handling workplace discrimination complaints.
When Must New Employees and New Supervisors Be Trained?
New employees must be trained within 6 months of their hire date. Similarly, new supervisors must be trained within 6 months of assuming a supervisory position.
Are California Employers Required to Train Temporary & Seasonal Employees?
Yes, California employers must provide sexual harassment prevention training to all employees, including temporary and seasonal workers. Training deadline: Within 30 calendar days of hire or within the first 100 hours worked, whichever occurs first. Exception: Employers who are clients of a temporary staffing agency are not required to train temporary employees provided by the agency, as the agency is responsible for their training.
In Which Languages Is Harassment Training Available in California?
While California law requires the DFEH to provide training in English and Spanish, employers are encouraged to offer training in other languages based on their workforce demographics. The DFEH currently offers free online training courses in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
