As a business stakeholder, you likely have a lot of concerns right now, from navigating the effects of the pandemic, to making decisions about daily operations, to planning how you will address the next challenge on your horizon. While the coronavirus dominated headlines in 2020, the pandemic shared the spotlight with increasing unrest around the world, especially in the American workplace. Stay-at-home orders and virtual work for many has not stopped harassment—or lessened the need for all businesses to provide anti-harassment training to their workforce. In New York State, ensuring your business educates its workers and representatives about anti-harassment policies is the law.
Sexual harassment in particular continues to garner attention, as do discriminatory policies, practices, and behaviors based on race, gender, ability, age, and other biases that promote inequalities. Do you understand all your responsibilities in protecting your employees from harassment? Do all your employees recognize their role in maintaining a harassment-free environment?
With all you have to contend with, it’s important to remain proactive about your employees’ anti-harassment training. New York State requires every business to provide its employees—even if you only have one—with anti-harassment training once every 12 months—and as soon as possible for new hires. You also need to provide notice to all employees, even if they’re working primarily from home.
But what about other people represent your company in unpaid or advisory roles? Are you responsible for their behavior? If they interact with your company or have contact with your employees or vendors, then yes, your business may suffer consequences for their bad behavior, including $100,000+ fines and the bad publicity that accompanies egregious acts. You must train part-time and seasonal employees, even if they only work for your company for one day, as well as contractors, subcontractors, paid or unpaid interns, vendors, consultants, and volunteers. Additionally, as a best practice, you should train board members and any other advisors—or ensure they’ve received training—if they’re going to represent your interests. Making sure everyone on your team receives this education promotes better compliance with the law and a better workplace for everyone.
Annual training has costs in both time and money—but failing to provide this training could cost you much more. To ensure 100% compliance for your company, you can provide in-person training or access online platforms that incorporate an interactive testing component. Leadership Logic and Gillespie Associates have partnered to create effective and engaging training to satisfy New York’s anti-sexual harassment regulations, offering both in-person and online solutions to meet your business needs. Our attorney-approved, online course is interactive, accessible 24/7, and takes about 30 minutes to complete while including all NYS/New York City requirements. We focus on ethics and respect, and we provide tracking as well as a certificate of completion to each fully trained employee.
With all the changes the last year has required, providing a safe workplace remains critical for sustaining your business. Find out more about protecting yourself and all your business representatives through anti-harassment training on our website.