Employers subject to the City of Chicago’s Sexual Harassment Ordinance must comply with the updated training requirements by June 30th or risk penalty. As we previously advised, the amended Chicago Human Rights Ordinance requires all employers with at least one employee working within the geographical boundaries of the City of Chicago to provide the following annual training:
- All employees must participate in a minimum of one hour of sexual harassment prevention training.
- Supervisors and managers must participate in a minimum of two hours of sexual harassment prevention training.
- All employees must participate in one hour of bystander training.
In the City’s current guidance, the Commission on Human Rights clarifies that an “employer” obligated to supply sexual harassment training is any employer whose employees work in Chicago, even if the employees work remotely. Managers or supervisors must receive the requisite training even if they work outside of Chicago, if the employees whom they supervise work in Chicago, whether remotely or in-person.
The Commission on Human Relations produced template training materials; however, these materials contain limited examples and content that may not be sufficient to meet the law’s hourly requirements. Epstein Becker & Green has updated its Halting Harassment E-Learning Solution in accordance with Chicago’s revised requirements, including the necessary timing. Halting Harassment is an excellent resource for any employer because it hits every compliance obligation in an engaging, interactive manner, without a heavy lift from the employer.
Employers with at least one employee working in Chicago that have yet to provide the Amendments training must do so before June 30, 2023, or face the potential for daily fines of $500–$1,000. Please contact an Epstein Becker & Green attorney to learn more about Halting Harassment as an easy way to address this concern.
