There are both state and federal laws in place to help protect against sexual harassment in the workplace. Even with these laws, some people, such as supervisors, cross the line by sexually harassing a coworker.
California has a new state law that requires sexual harassment training for all supervisors. This law, which is outlined in CA Govt. Code Sec. 12950.1, states that California-based employers are required to provide supervisors with a minimum of two hours of interactive sexual harassment education and training every two years.
This law covers all companies with 50 or more employees. It is not required that the employees all live in California or work at the same location.
Who is considered a supervisor? This may appear to be gray area in regards to the law, but it clearly outlines that this person is anybody who has the ability to hire, suspend, transfer, promote, recall, discharge, reward, assign, layoff or discipline other workers. A supervisor is also somebody who has the responsibility to give direction to employees.
If an employer is unsure of whether somebody is considered a supervisor, he or she should include that person in the anti-harassment training.
Many states are taking steps to help prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. With laws in place, including those that require training, it is the hope of the state that fewer people will sexually harass others. In the event that this does happen, it can cost many parties a lot of time and money, as the victim often files a lawsuit against the harasser and/or his or her employer.
Source: Training Today, “Sexual Harassment Training Requirements for California Supervisors (AB1825),” accessed April. 20, 2015
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