Effective January – Sexual Harassment Training Required In Illinois

Beginning in January, as one part of a new law called the Workplace Transparency Act, every employer with employees in Illinois will be required to provide sexual harassment prevention training on an annual basis to all employees.

The Illinois Department of Human Rights will develop a model training program that will be made available to employers and the public at no cost. Employers may use the model program or create their own program that exceeds the minimum standards of the model program. Bar and restaurant employers must also use a supplemental training program. 

Businesses will have until January 1, 2021, to provide sexual harassment training to their existing employees. New employees will have to be trained within 90 days of their start date.

The annual required sexual harassment training program must include:

• an explanation of sexual harassment
• examples of conduct that constitutes unlawful sexual harassment
• a summary of federal and state statutory provisions, including remedies available to victims of sexual harassment
• a summary of the responsibilities of employers for prevention, investigation, and corrective measures of sexual harassment.