STATE LAW MANDATES

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Illinois Annual Harassment Prevention Training Requirement SB 75

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Illinois state legislators have found that the organizational tolerance of sexual harassment has a detrimental influence in workplaces by creating a hostile environment for employees, reducing productivity, and increasing legal liability. It is their intent to encourage employers to adopt and actively implement policies to ensure their workplaces are safe for employees to report concerns about sexual harassment without fear of retaliation, loss of status, or loss of promotional opportunities. 

The Illinois Department of Human Rights shall produce a model sexual harassment prevention training program aimed at the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Starting January 1, 2020, every employer with employees working in Illinois shall use the model sexual harassment prevention training program or establish its own sexual harassment prevention training program that equals or exceeds the minimum standards. The sexual harassment prevention training shall be provided at least once a year to all employees and new hires should be trained as soon as possible to minimize risk. This model program shall include, at a minimum, the following:

  • An explanation of sexual harassment consistent with the Act

  • Examples of conduct that constitutes unlawful sexual harassment

  • A summary of relevant federal and state statutory provisions concerning sexual harassment, including remedies available to victims of sexual harassment

  • A summary of responsibilities of employers in the prevention, investigation, and corrective measures of sexual harassment

Two colleagues, a man and a woman, smiling and high-fiving each other in an office setting. The man has a beard and is dressed in a light blue shirt with a striped tie. The woman has long brown hair and is wearing a dark blazer over a white blouse. They are seated at a wooden table with documents, a laptop, mugs, and pens. The office has large windows, exposed brick walls, and a whiteboard with charts and notes.

Under Illinois state law, employers must also:

  • Display sexual harassment informational posters in visible, high-traffic areas

  • Ensure a workplace free of sexual harassment

  • Provide a sexual harassment information sheet at request

  • Provide training to employees within six months of hire

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NEW TO HARASSMENT LAW

Illinois state legislators have found that the organizational tolerance of sexual harassment has a detrimental influence in workplaces by creating a hostile environment for employees, reducing productivity, and increasing legal liability. It is their intent to encourage employers to adopt and actively implement policies to ensure their workplaces are safe for employees to report concerns about sexual harassment without fear of retaliation, loss of status, or loss of promotional opportunities. 

The Illinois Department of Human Rights shall produce a model sexual harassment prevention training program aimed at the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Starting January 1, 2020, every employer with employees working in Illinois shall use the model sexual harassment prevention training program or establish its own sexual harassment prevention training program that equals or exceeds the minimum standards. The sexual harassment prevention training shall be provided at least once a year to all employees and new hires should be trained as soon as possible to minimize risk. This model program shall include, at a minimum, the following:

  • An explanation of sexual harassment consistent with the Act

  • Examples of conduct that constitutes unlawful sexual harassment

  • A summary of relevant federal and state statutory provisions concerning sexual harassment, including remedies available to victims of sexual harassment

  • A summary of responsibilities of employers in the prevention, investigation, and corrective measures of sexual harassment

WHAT THE TRAINING COVERS

ICT is here to offer a flexible, customizable, comprehensive course that includes all of Illinois’s requirements. Topics covered in our program are:

  • Abusive conduct

  • Discrimination

  • Domestic violence

  • Gender-based harassment and consideration

  • Sexual harassment

  • Stalking

  • Retaliation, for supervisors

  • Bystander Intervention

  • Covers all protected classes

These topics cover all forms of harassment in the workplace, as well as related issues that may stem from an incident.

Illinois is the newest state to pass legislation that requires that every employer with employees in the state provide annual harassment prevention training. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the bill on August 9, 2019, with an effective date of January 1, 2020. 

Here at Impact Compliance, we know how challenging it can be to meet state law training mandates and provide this critical education to all employees annually.

COMPLY WITH ILLINOIS SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWS

Harassment and discrimination pose complex challenges in the workplace. Keeping your organization compliant with Illinois law and educating your staff on preventing these issues is our full-time job.

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