Employer Win: CT Extends Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Deadline

We'll call it a win for employers that the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) has extended the training deadline for Sexual Harassment Prevention Training from October 1, 2020, to January 1, 2021, due to the pandemic. Previously, CHRO had allowed an extension of the training requirements however it only applied to newly hired employees, and employers had to obtain approval from CHRO for the extension. The newly issued extension allows employers more time to comply with the Time's Up Act and doesn't require approval.

As a reminder, the Time's Up Act was effective October 1, 2019, and requires employers to comply with new training requirements as well as notification requirements.

Training Requirements

Employers with three or more employees must provide two hours of sexual harassment prevention training to their employees. New employees hired after October 1, 2019, should be trained within six months of hire and existing employees now need to be trained by January 1, 2021.

Employers with less than three employees still need to train anyone that falls into a supervisor role.

Notification Requirements

Employers must ensure the appropriate notices are posted in the workplace. In addition, the Act requires employers to email within three months of hire information regarding the illegality of sexual harassment in the workplace. The title of the email should specifically state "Sexual Harassment Policy" or a similar subject line.