Whether or Not Your Employer Provides Training on Workplace Sexual Harassment, It's Still Illegal

As new laws go into effect in a number of states, requiring mandatory workplace sexual harassment training, many companies are utilizing video or interactive training developed and produced by law firms, labor departments or human resources companies. However, regardless of whether or not your company currently offers sexual harassment training or clearly posts its policies, state and federal guidelines, or provides clear and confidential mechanisms for handling harassment, sexual harassment in the workplace is always illegal.

While legislators and policy makers in states such as New York and California have responded to recent revelations about workplace harassment and the pressures of #MeToo to develop new guidelines and policies regarding workplace sexual harassment, which include mandatory harassment policies and training, there is evidence to suggest sexual harassment training does little to curb workplace harassment. Legal scholars and researchers have argued in recent years that mandatory training simply provides cover for employers while failing to address the larger, systemic roots that cultivate a culture of workplace harassment. This makes it ever more important to emphasize that sexual harassment is illegal no matter what policies are in place at your work to prevent sexual harassment.