6/24/2009

California is one of only three states in the country that require mandatory sexual harassment prevention training for supervisors. Of those three—Connecticut and Maine are the other two—the rules for California employers are the most detailed. Failure to adequately train supervisors can become evidence in a lawsuit that an employer hasn't taken "all reasonable and necessary steps" to prevent sexual harassment.

Passed in 2004, A.B. 1825 requires that every California employer with 50 or more full-time, part-time, or temporary employees (including independent contractors), whether they work in California or in any other state, must provide every supervisor with 2 hours of sexual harassment training every two years. New or recently promoted supervisors must be provided the training within 6 months of taking on supervisory duties. A "supervisor" is anyone who has supervisory authority over one or more other employees, and includes management at the highest levels.

In order for sexual harassment training provided to supervisors to be compliant it must be either a classroom program or other "interactive education," and address both state and federal sexual harassment laws. The training must also provide practical examples of prohibited conduct, explain the remedies available to victims of sexual harassment, and generally cover discrimination and retaliation as well. In addition, the training must be provided by qualified educators with extensive knowledge of harassment, discrimination and retaliation laws.

Employers are required to track and keep records of all sexual harassment training provided to each supervisory employee.

For more information, download our special report, The Employer's Compliance Guide to Supervisor Sexual Harassment Training in California.

For an easy and cost-effective way to comply with the training requirement, learn about the BLR Employee Training Center.

What's the Difference Between a Manager and a Leader?

Turning rank-and-file employees or new hires into skilled, dependable frontline supervisors is a tremendous challenge—and, in the middle of a recession, it's even tougher:

• New managers must learn how to give, rather than follow, directions



• They must coach, motivate, and discipline employees who were once their peers (and may still be their friends)



• They must help boost morale, retention, and engagement when all three are in short supply



• They must learn to focus on the "big picture" of the company's goals



• They must learn the legal dos and don'ts of supervising to avoid legal mistakes that could cost you big bucks and lots of embarrassment

Bring your new supervisors along on June 29 for an informative 90-minute audio conference that's designed specifically to help you orient and train employees who are just breaking into your management ranks. They'll learn 11 proven strategies for getting started on the right foot, from learning how to delegate tasks and command respect to administering discipline and avoiding the most common legal mistakes that can trip up even the most experienced managers.

YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL LEARN:

• What steps newly minted supervisors should take—on their first day, in the first week, and during the first month—to position themselves for success



• The biggest management mistake many first-time supervisors make—and how your new leaders can avoid repeating it



• How your new managers can effectively make the transition from peer to boss



• The most common legal errors that new supervisors make (from unknowingly discriminating against employees to giving out the wrong information about FMLA leave)



• How you can train your new managers to document issues with employees and administer discipline effectively, so they can correct workers without making things worse



• Which techniques are most effective for new supervisors to deliver constructive feedback to their workers without demoralizing them



• Why good employees sometimes quit—and how your new front-line managers can help retain those workers

Register now »

Find out more »