Twenty-two states require some form of sexual harassment training for employees. A few states dictate the nature of the training, mandating online or interactive training.
The states differ in the scope of laws. Some states require training of only private sector employees, while others mandate all, or a subgroup, of public sector employees to be trained. While California and New York require training for all employers, other states require training only by employers with a prescribed minimum number of employees. For example, each North Carolina agency head is required to develop strategies to prevent unlawful workplace harassment, sexual harassment, or retaliation through trainings for agency employees and other methods. In contrast, employers in South Carolina are not required to train employees.
The District of Columbia requires sexual harassment training only for workplaces where there are tipped employees. Similarly, in Illinois, owners of restaurants and bars must provide sexual harassment training specifically modeled for that industry.
Many states have laws that only encourage, but don’t require, employers to provide training. Such employers are also expected to have processes in place for making complaints if an employee is sexually harassed.
States Requiring Sexual Harassment Training
States requiring sexual harassment training for private and public sector employees (some smaller employers may be exempt per state regulations):
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Maine
- New York
- Washington
States requiring sexual harassment training only for some or all public sector employees:
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
Laws Protect Victims of Sexual Harassment
If you are a victim of workplace discrimination, the law protects you. If your employer failed to provide required sexual harassment training, that doesn’t excuse unlawful harassment. If training is required in your state and is not provided and you have experienced workplace sexual harassment, that may emerge as a factor in the investigation of your case.
Contact the attorneys of The Noble Law Firm. Our lawyers are ready to listen and help you obtain the justice and compensation you deserve. We fight for your indelible legal right to work unburdened by workplace sex discrimination.
Choose a Woman-Owned Firm That Understands
The Noble Law Firm is nationally recognized as a leader in employment law with offices in North Carolina, South Carolina, and New York. We are a woman-owned firm that prioritizes integrity. We see every client as a valued individual. Our practice takes on the injustices employees encounter in the workplace.
If you have experienced workplace sexual harassment, we hear you and take your concerns seriously. The law protects workers from workplace harassment. At The Noble Law Firm, we work hard to make every client feel that they—and not their harasser—are in charge of their career. We advocate for each individual client to vindicate their employment rights and regain their dignity after suffering workplace sexual harassment.