California AB 1825 Training Requirements
Two Hours of Sexual Harassment Training Every Two Years
Employers must provide two hours of training to each supervisory employee every two years. The training includes practical guidance and information regarding the following:
- What constitutes sexual harassment in the workplace
- Federal and state laws that prohibit sexual harassment
- Resources and assistance available to victims of sexual harassment
- Practical examples of how to prevent and report sexual harassment in the workplace
While two hours of training must be completed, it does not have to be two consecutive hours; employers have the liberty of splitting the training (e.g. two one-hour training sessions).
High-Quality, Interactive Training
The training provided in accordance with AB 1825 must be high quality and conducted by means of “classroom or other effective interactive training”. Individuals who teach AB 1825 courses must have “knowledge and expertise” in the area of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation prevention.
With more than 1.7 million supervisors in the state who must complete the training, an online course provides an interactive and practical alternative to conventional classroom education. Participants in Training Advisor’s course will receive the same high-quality instruction and information through an educational approach that is more conducive to their work schedule and environment.
New Employees and Promotions
Any employees that are hired or promoted as supervisors are required to complete the training course within six months of their start date. Training must be repeated every two years by every supervisor that works in the state of California, regardless of their place of employment or any other factors.
Failure to Comply with AB 1825
Employers who fail to comply with the regulations mandated by AB 1825 may face punitive damages. In addition, compliance with AB 1825 does not guarantee against sexual harassment claims and on the contrary, a claim that an employer failed to provide adequate sexual harassment training as covered in the statues does not automatically result in the liability of an employer for sexual harassment.
Training in harassment of all types is preferred to specific sexual harassment training under California AB 1825 because, in the event legal charges are filed against an employer, only teaching one form of harassment prevention may be viewed as discriminatory.
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