Harassment Prevention: Promoting a Positive Workplace Culture

Is Your Business Leading the Way?

Let CalChamber help you drive positive culture change through compliance.

For 130 years, CalChamber has fought to make the Golden State an even better place to live, work and do business. Part of this effort includes helping employers comply with their sexual harassment prevention training obligations, which supports employers in promoting a positive workplace culture.

Not only is sexual harassment prevention training mandatory for California employers with five or more employees, but it also aims to create a healthier workplace that is more inclusive, with respect and fairness shared by all, regardless of their sex, gender, race, age, religion, and other characteristics.

Did you know that creating a healthy workplace environment and a positive culture is critical to the success of your business?

Can you recognize the fine lines of harassment in the workplace? Harassment-free workplaces that respect all workers are more successful, have better retention rates, and increase an employer's ability to recruit and hire the most qualified workers.

Did you know that more than 1.2 million employees have been trained by CalChamber? We've been a qualified harassment prevention trainer since 2008, and we make it easy to meet your California legal compliance requirements by offering 24/7 access to our online harassment prevention training program.

If you trained staff in 2019, they were due for refresher training by January 1, 2022. Start your mandatory California harassment prevention training today!

Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

Can you recognize the fine lines of harassment in the workplace? What about your employees? Those gray areas of even unintentional behavior can create problems. Training and education about various forms of harassment can reveal areas that need improvement, helping you to create a happier, more productive work environment, which can have a direct effect on your business' success.

A report from TalentLMS and The Purple Campaign reveals the importance and benefits of providing employees with sexual harassment prevention training: [2]

• 90% report that after receiving training, they're more aware of how to report an incident of sexual harassment.
• 70% say training makes them more likely to stay with their company.
• 61% report that training makes them feel more productive in their role.

Leading Cultural Change Starts at The Top

Are you leading the cultural change in preventing workplace harassment?

Sexual harassment in the workplace is not only about compliance, but it's also about promoting a positive work culture. Boards of directors can have a massive impact on the success of a business, regardless of its size or industry, especially when it plays a significant role in setting a positive example at the top.

By displaying strong leadership in maintaining a harassment-free work environment and treating all employees in a fair and equal manner, a business can create a happier, healthier work environment and enhance the productivity of its employees.

Train your staff to prevent workplace harassment – not just because it's the law, but because it shows your commitment to your employees and sets an excellent example for your entire company.

Lead the cultural change today so your business can thrive tomorrow.
Start your mandatory California harassment prevention training!

Remote Work and Workplace Harassment

With millions of employees working remotely — a trend rapidly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic — a misperception has been that sexual harassment in the workplace has become less of a risk. Less face-to face interaction should reduce the chance of inappropriate conduct, right? Unfortunately, however, data shows that’s not really the case.

Therefore, it is important to reiterate that workplace law prohibits harassment regardless of whether the misconduct occurs in-person or online.

Understanding Sexual Harassment and Your Liability

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual, physical or verbal conduct in the workplace and falls into two categories: quid pro quo and hostile environment. Understanding the difference is important so you can recognize and stop the behavior.

Harassment also doesn't have to be of sexual nature; it can include offensive remarks about a person's protected characteristic, such as sex, gender, religion, or age, to name a few.

As a business owner and employer, you may be liable for acts committed by supervisors and employees. It's up to you to not only set the tone in your workplace, but also avoid liability for harassment, sexual or otherwise. The actions — or inaction — of your managers and employees can result in costly judgments against your business and themselves.

To prevent or stop sexual harassment, you must understand what constitutes sexual harassment, as well as other forms of harassment as defined under both California and federal law.

Have you met your harassment prevention training deadlines?
Start your mandatory training today!

7 Things to Know About Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

• California significantly expanded its harassment prevention training requirements beginning in 2019.
• Employers with five or more employees must comply with training obligations.
• Supervisors must receive two hours of sexual harassment prevention training.
• Nonsupervisory employees must receive one hour of sexual harassment prevention training.>
• Training must take place within six months of hire or promotion and every two years thereafter.
• California seasonal and temporary employees hired directly to work for less than six months must receive sexual harassment prevention training within 30 calendar days after their hire date or within 100 hours worked, whichever occurs first.
• Training must include a component on the prevention of abusive conduct as well as a component on harassment based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.

CalChamber's courses also include best practices to help employers raise awareness about the subtleties of harassment, how to improve workplace culture and respect, increase productivity, and a provide a sense of well-being that your employees will appreciate.

Changing workplace culture doesn't happen overnight, but each step you take is important in driving change.

To learn more about CalChamber's sexual harassment prevention training
and to purchase training, visit our store.