California Expands Sexual Harassment Training Law
California has enacted a new law that requires employers with five or more employees to provide sexual harassment training. This training is required within six months of when each employee assumes a position. The state has also enacted other new laws addressing workplace harassment. Is your business ready?
On Sept. 30, 2018, California enacted a series of laws that strengthen the state’s protections against workplace harassment. Effective Jan. 1, 2019, these new laws:
- Require employers with five or more employees in the state to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all employees;
- Expand and clarify employer liability for workplace harassment; and
- Prohibit employers from entering certain agreements related to sexual harassment and other unlawful acts in the workplace.
GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. Training Program
Our clients have access to an online sexual harassment training through our HR program, at no additional cost to them. Protect your business with this convenient training program!
- Our training is an online platform with built-in monitoring and status updates on training taken by each employee.
- The training can be taken all at once or broken out into smaller time segments as needed.
- You can even have their OSHA logs on the same portal.
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What Should Your California Business Do?
All California employers should become familiar with the new laws. Those with five or more employees should review the new training requirements and monitor the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s (DFEH) website for training courses and additional guidance.
If you are a client of GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. and need access to the training, contact us today.
If you are NOT a GDI Insurance Agency, Inc, it’s not too late. Get your business quote today and we’ll get you started on your way to this required sexual harassment training. Contact us today 209-634-2929.
Why Did The Law Change?
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) broadly prohibits workplace harassment. All employers in the state are prohibited from harassing individuals or allowing harassment based on any of the protected traits listed below. Employees, applicants, unpaid interns, unpaid volunteers and anyone providing services under a contract in the workplace are all protected under the law.
Under the FEHA, any employer, regardless of size, may be held liable for sexual harassment committed in its workplace, even if the harasser is not an employee. The FEHA also requires employers with 50 or more employees in the state to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all supervisory employees every two years.
Overview of Changes Effective Jan. 1, 2019
Effective Jan. 1, 2019, the FEHA is expanded as follows:
- The current requirements for supervisor training on sexual harassment are expanded to employers with five or more employees. These employers must also provide one hour of sexual harassment training to all nonsupervisory employees.
- Employers may be held liable for workplace harassment that is based on any protected trait (not just sexual harassment) committed by nonemployees in the workplace. The rules on what an employee must prove in a harassment claim have also been clarified.
- Employers may not require an employee to sign any agreement that waives a claim or right for workplace discrimination or harassment, or that prevents disclosure of any information about unlawful acts in the workplace.
California law has also been changed to prohibit confidentiality requirements in sexual harassment claim settlements and sex discrimination claim settlements.
New Training Requirements
Effective Jan. 1, 2019, every California employer with five or more employees must provide:
- Each supervisory employee with at least two hours of sexual harassment training; and
- Each nonsupervisory employee with at least one hour of sexual harassment training.
The appropriate sexual harassment training must be completed by each employee within six months of assuming his or her job. Each employee must receive the appropriate training once every two years. The deadline for initial compliance with these requirements is Jan. 1, 2020. Employers must provide the initial training after Jan. 1, 2019, in order to meet this deadline.
As of Jan. 1, 2020, special requirements will apply for seasonal employees, temporary employees and any employees who are hired to work for less than six months. For these employees, employers must provide the required training within 30 calendar days after the employees’ hire dates or before the employees have worked 100 hours, whichever comes first.
The DFEH plans to develop two online training courses that employers may use to satisfy the training requirements. Employers should monitor the DFEH website for these courses and additional guidance.
Expanded Employer Liability for Workplace Harassment
The FEHA allows an employer to be held liable for acts of workplace sexual harassment committed by nonemployees under certain circumstances. Effective Jan. 1, 2019, employers may also be held liable for nonemployees’ acts of any type of unlawful workplace harassment. An employer may be held liable if:
- A nonemployee commits harassment against any of the employers’ employees, applicants, unpaid interns, unpaid volunteers or people providing services pursuant to a contract in the workplace;
- The harassment is based on any FEHA-protected trait;
- The employer (or its agents or supervisors) knows or should have known of the conduct; and
- The employer fails to take immediate and appropriate corrective action.
Prohibited Waivers and Confidentiality Agreements
An employer may not require an employee to sign either of the following in exchange for a raise or bonus, or as a condition of employment or continued employment:
- A release of a claim or right against the employer for employment practices that violate the FEHA; or
- A non-disparagement agreement or other document that prevents the employee from disclosing information about unlawful or potentially unlawful acts in the workplace.
These rules apply to agreements executed on or after Jan. 1, 2019.
These rules do not apply to agreements to settle claims involving unlawful acts in the workplace that have been filed by an employee either in court, with an administrative agency, in an alternative dispute resolution forum or through an employer’s internal complaint process. However, there are new restrictions on settlement agreements involving claims of:
- Workplace sexual harassment;
- Employment discrimination based on sex; or
- Retaliation related to claims of sex discrimination or sexual harassment in the workplace.
Effective Jan. 1, 2019, these settlement agreements may not include any provision that prevents the disclosure of factual information related to the underlying claim. Settlement agreements executed on or after Jan. 1, 2019, that violate this prohibition are void and unenforceable. The bill also prohibits courts from issuing any order or stipulation that restricts this type of disclosure in sex discrimination or sexual harassment cases.
However, settlements for sex discrimination or sexual harassment may shield the claimant’s identity and all facts that could lead to the discovery of his or her identity (including pleadings filed in court), as long as the claimant is the one who requests it (and as long as no government agencies or public officials are parties to the settlement agreement). In addition, settlement provisions may prevent parties from disclosing the amount paid for a claim settlement.
California’s Leader in Insurance and Risk Management
As one of the fastest growing agencies in California, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is able to provide its clients with the latest and greatest of what the insurance industry has to offer and much, much more.
With locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding our client’s expectations in every interaction to make sure that our client’s know how much we value and appreciate their business. Contact us today 1-209-634-2929 for your comprehensive business insurance quote!