New York State and City Expand Anti-Harassment Requirements for Employers

Both the New York State Legislature and the New York City Council recently adopted new legislation targeting sex discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace. Granovsky & Sundaresh PLLC Provides Legally Mandated Anti-Harassment Training


 

New York State

Anti-harassment training requirements

The New York State Legislature included a number of sexual harassment-related initiatives in the State’s 2018-2019 budget.

Mandatory Sexual Harassment Training and Policy

Starting October 9, 2018 all New York employers, regardless of their size, provide interactive sexual harassment training annually to all employees and provide employees with a written non-harassment policy. The State Department of Labor has released a Guidance on Sexual Harassment for All Employers in New York State as well as a model training program. Employers may either adopt the state’s model policy, create a new policy which still falls within state guidelines, or revise their own policies to meet the specified threshold requirements. Employers must also develop and publish “a standard complaint form” that employees can use to make sexual harassment claims as well as inform employees in writing of “all available forums for adjudicating sexual harassment complaints administratively and judicially.”

 
 

 

New York City

Mandatory Sexual Harassment Training

Effective April 1, 2019 all employers in New York City shall be required to provide interactive workplace anti-harassment training for all employees.  The anti-harassment training must occur after 90 days of initial hire and must include all of the typical elements of anti-harassment training, including emphasizing that retaliation is prohibited.  New York City promises to develop and provide a free online training that employers may utilize if they do not adopt their programs.  Employers are required to keep a record of this training, including a signed employee acknowledgment, which must be maintained for three years. An employer whose training program already meets these requirements may submit a certification of compliance.

Employers will also be required to post an “anti-sexual harassment rights and responsibilities” poster in both English and Spanish in a workplace common area. The city will issue an approved poster that employers can download and post.

 

Need Help?  We are here to help!

The attorneys at Granovsky & Sundaresh offer full-service training to fulfill your requirements under both State and City Law. We offer transparent, flat-fee pricing, certificates of completion, and filing services.  We can perform training on or off-site and, if necessary, online. Contact us today for availability and pricing information.

We offer discounts for businesses owned by veterans