Many states have mandated sexual harassment training through law, while others have not. Check to see if your state has any training requirements below.
Alabama
No training requirements
Alabama Department of Human Resources website
Alaska
No training requirements
Alaska State Commission for Human Rights website
Arizona
No training requirements
Arkansas
No training requirements
California
Employers with at least five (5) employees must provide:
- at least 2 hours of sexual harassment prevention training to all supervisory employees, and
- at least one hour of sexual harassment prevention training to all non-supervisory employees in California (within 6 months of their positions) by January 1, 2020.
This training must be provided bi-annually.
Sexual Harassment training for all employees must be interactive.
Supervisor training must also include:
- A definition of unlawful conduct under FEHA and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- FEHA and Title VII provisions and case law principles concerning the prohibition against and the prevention of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation in employment
- Remedies available for sexual harassment victims in civil actions and potential employer or individual liability
- Strategies to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace
- An explanation about the limited confidentiality of the complaint process
- Practical examples that illustrate sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation.
- Resources for victims of harassment.
- The employer’s obligation to conduct an effective workplace investigation of a harassment complaint and take remedial measures to correct harassing behavior
- A supervisor’s obligation to report any complaints of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation of which they’re aware to a designated corporate representative, such as a human resource professional, so the employer may try to resolve the claim internally
- How to prevent abusive conduct
- What the supervisor should do if he or she is personally accused of harassment
- The essential elements of anti-harassment policy, and how to use it if a complaint is filed
California’s Civil Rights Agency website
Colorado
Training is not mandatory, but employers are encouraged to take all steps necessary to prevent workplace harassment from occurring, such as affirmatively raising the subject, expressing strong disapproval, developing appropriate sanctions, informing employees of their right to raise and how to raise the issue of harassment and developing methods to sensitize all concerned.
Colorado Department of Labor & Employment website
Connecticut
Employers with fifty (50) or more employees in Connecticut must provide sexual harassment training to supervisors within six months of the individual assuming a supervisory position.
No requirement for non-supervisors.
Delaware
All employers with fifty (50) or more employees regardless of type must meet the following training requirements:
- provide employees with interactive training and education on the prevention of sexual harassment
- training must be conducted for new employees within one year of the commencement of their employment. Existing employees must receive sexual harassment training within one (1) year of the effective date of this statute (January 1, 2020 deadline)
- The training topics must (1) address the illegality of sexual harassment, (2) define sexual harassment, with examples, (3) describe the legal remedies and complaint process available to the employee, (4) direct employees how to contact the Delaware Department of Labor, and (5) instruct employees that retaliation is prohibited
- new supervisors must receive additional interactive training within one year of the commencement of their employment in a supervisory role. Existing supervisors must receive training by January 1, 2020.
- this supplemental training must cover the specific responsibilities of a supervisor in preventing and correcting sexual harassment as well as the legal prohibition against retaliation
Employees and supervisor training programs must be repeated every two (2) years.
Florida
No training requirements.
Georgia
No training requirements
Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity
Hawaii
No training requirements
State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Idaho
No training requirements
Illinois
Sexual harassment training is required for government agencies and lobbyists.
Illinois Department of Human Rights
Indiana
No training requirements
Indiana Civil Rights Commission
Iowa
Training is only required for public sector employees by executive order.
Kansas
No training requirements.
Kansas Human Rights Commission
Kentucky
No training requirements
Louisiana
No training requirements
Maine
Training is required for employees with 15 or more employees, within 1 year of hire. Additional training required for supervisors that defines the specific responsibilities of supervisory and managerial employees and methods that these employees must take to ensure immediate and appropriate corrective action in addressing sexual harassment complaints.
Training Checklist:
- A written notice of the illegality of sexual harassment
- The definition of sexual harassment under state law
- A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples
- The internal complaint process available to the employee
- The legal recourse and complaint process available through the Maine Human Rights Commission
- Directions on how to contact the Commission; and the protection against retaliation as provided pursuant to Title 5, section 4553, subsection 10, paragraph D.
Maine Title 26, Chapter 7, Subchapter 4-B: Sexual Harassment Policies
Maryland
No training requirements, but By July 1, 2020 employers must submit surveys that show:
- the number of settlements made by or on behalf of the employer after an allegation of sexual harassment by an employee
- the number of times the employer has paid a settlement to resolve a sexual harassment allegation against the same employee over the past 10 years of employment (and whether the employer took personnel action against said employee)
- the number of settlements made after an allegation of sexual harassment that included a provision requiring both parties to keep the terms of the settlement confidential
Massachusetts
Training is encouraged, but not required by law
Policy is required by law, distributed annually.
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
Michigan
Minnesota
No training requirements
Minnesota Department of Human Resources
Mississippi
No training requirements
Missouri
No training requirements
Missouri Department of Human Rights
Montana
No training requirements
Montana Department of Labor & Industry
Nebraska
No training requirements
Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission
Nevada
No training requirements
Nevada Equal Rights Commission
New Hampshire
No training requirements
New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights
New Jersey
No training requirements
New Jersey Division on Civil Rights
New Mexico
No training requirements
New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
New York
Mandatory annual sexual harassment prevention training that includes:
- An explanation of sexual harassment and examples thereof
- Information regarding the federal and state laws concerning sexual harassment and the remedies available to victims of sexual harassment
- Information concerning employees’ rights of redress and all available forums for adjudicating complaints
Mandatory Sexual Harassment Policy must:
- State that sexual harassment is prohibited
- Provide examples of prohibited conduct that would constitute unlawful sexual harassment
- Contain information regarding federal and state law concerning sexual harassment and remedies available to victims of sexual
- Include a statement that there may be applicable local laws on sexual harassment
- Contain a complaint form
- Include a procedure for the investigation of complaints
- State that sexual harassment is considered a form of employee misconduct and that sanctions will be enforced against individuals engaging in sexual harassment and against supervisory and managerial personnel who knowingly allow sexual harassment to continue
- State that retaliation against those who complain of sexual harassment or who testify or assist in any proceeding is unlawful
*New York City also has required training*
New York Division of Human Rights
North Carolina
North Dakota
No training requirements
North Dakota Labor & Human Rights
Ohio
No training requirements
Oklahoma
No training requirements
Oregon
No training requirements
Pennsylvania
Training is required for state employees.
Office of Administration – Human Resources
Rhode Island
Training is required for new employees within one year of hire, additional training for managers and supervisors within one year of assumption of supervisory position. (appears to be for state employees only).
South Carolina
No training requirements
South Carolina Human Affairs Commission
South Dakota
Training is encouraged, but not required by law.
South Dakota Division of Human Rights
Tennessee
Training only required for state employees, no private sector training requirements.
Tennessee Human Rights Commission
Texas
Mandatory training for state agencies within 30 days and every 2 years.
No private sector mandatory training.
Utah
Training mandatory for state employees only.
State of Utah Labor Commission
Vermont
Training encouraged but not required, unless ordered by the AG.
State of Vermont Human Rights Commission
Virginia
No training requirements for any employer other than the legislature.
Virginia Division of Human Rights
Washington
Mandatory training for state employees only by executive order.
No private sector training requirement.
Washington State Human Rights Commission
Washington D.C.
No training requirements
West Virginia
No training requirements
West Virginia Human Rights Commission
Wisconsin
No training requirements
State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Wyoming
No training requirements