Connecticut Requires All Employers to Provide Sexual Harassment Training
Safeguard your employees and protect your business with Alterity’s Respectful Workplace virtual training.
The #MeToo movement prompted Connecticut to enact the Time’s Up Act, which requires employers all of sizes to provide 2 hours of sexual harassment training. Those with more than 3 employees should have delivered training by October 1, 2019, while those with less than 3 have until October 1, 2020 to comply with the new law. All companies are required to train new hires within 6 months and provide updated training at least every ten years. The Connecticut law applies to all employees doing business in Connecticut, even if their company is headquartered elsewhere.
Connecticut Training Compliance Requirements
The training required under the Time’s Up Act should include the definition and examples of sexual harassment, options for handling the problem, and remedies for cases where management fails to act. The law does not require that the training be live (i.e. it can be virtual) but does state that an interactive format is necessary for compliance. A FAQ answer from the state defines this obligation:
“What constitutes an “interactive” training? The language of the statute requires the training to be interactive. This means that the training must be in a format that allows participants to ask questions and receive answers. For example, the training could include a live question and answer session at the end or it could provide a way for participants to submit questions and receive answers after the training within a reasonable time period.”
Alterity’s Respectful Workplace virtual training satisfies all of the requirements of the Time’s Up Act (Section 46a-54 (15) (B) and 46a-54-204 of the Connecticut General Statutes Training Requirements) as well as those required by:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act
- The Equal Pay Act
- Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA)
- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Alterity’s Interactive Virtual Training Meets Everyone’s Needs
In order to ensure compliance with Connecticut law and reach every employee, Alterity’s Respectful Workforce virtual training is led by experienced trainers and includes interactive, scenario-based videos; exercises to help participants identify sexual harassment and sex discrimination; and crucial facts, definitions, regulations, and prevention methods. Not only do the trainers cover all aspects of sex discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace, they train participants on emotional intelligence and diversity. They also provide ongoing communication and follow-up with employees, giving trainees the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers. HR managers benefit from the Respectful Workplace Program, too, with detailed analytics reports, assistance with completing other compliance requirements, and a robust online learning portal that manages compliance and reporting.