Sexual harassment in California and elsewhere in the USA has been on the rise. And so there measures had to be put in place to curb the issue.
Recently there have been some developments in training regarding sexual harassment in California that have some significant changes.
The changes
The first change was that any employee with more than five staff members has to do the training. Previously, the number of employees was 50 plus.
Secondly, now all members of the staff group have to go through the course, whether manager, supervisor or any other, in short everyone. The reason for this change is that you have to understand that sexual harassment could come from any direction. It could be boss to employee, employee to boss, colleague to colleague, or from a third party. It is only fair that everyone gets educated on their role in the matter and, most importantly, how to handle it.
Lastly, the deadline for these changes has been extended a year, from January 2020 to January 2021. This was because the revised bill was introduced in 2019.
What topics are covered on the course?
The three major topics that will be highlighted in the revised training will be gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression. Each of which will be covered alongside all other relevant sexual harassment issues that were taught in the previous training. Such as the types of conduct deemed as sexual abuse, the remedies, and resources available to victims, strategies for prevention, and duties as a supervisor, to mention a few.
The course also highlights the right way to dealing with such matters legally as hiring a sexual harassment lawyer in Modesto, California, for instance.
How long does the training take?
Previously, managers and supervisors went in for a two-hour comprehensive training session, which remains as it is. The new group that should take the training is the non-managerial workers who go for a one-hour session.
Once these sessions are completed, a refresher should be done in two years after the initial training to keep the fight against sexual harassment in California alive.
Are new and temporary employees subjected to the same?
Yes, they must undergo the training as well. New members of staff have to partake the training within the first six months after employment. However, if they had already had the course in the previous job, it would be good to go until the refresher course.
The employer must train the temp employees working for under six months within 100 hours of working or 30 calendar days after the date of hire. If they do not work in either of the two conditions, they do not require any training.
What are the channels to access the training?
An employer can choose one of three modes to do the training.
The first is through E-learning. This can be through a webinar where qualified personnel like a sexual harassment lawyer in Modesto, California, can take the teams through the lessons.
Secondly, there is the online channel via live stream with qualified personnel. This may be taken by a team or an individual at their own time.
Lastly, in-person training is when the trainer meets the team and takes them through the course.
With all these in play, sexual assault in the State of California will be a thing of the past, and we will call our workplaces safe as it should be.
Cited Sources
- https://clearlawinstitute.com/blog/california-law-now-requires-sexual-harassment-training-for-all-employees/
- https://www.cda.org/Home/News-and-Events/Newsroom/Article-Details/new-online-sexual-harassment-prevention-training-option-for-california-employers
