Every month, we put together the upcoming HR-related regulatory changes that businesses should be aware of. California released a sexual harassment training and increased paid family leave benefits.
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Program Released for Nonsupervisory Employees
Who: Employers with five or more employees
When: Initial deadline: January 1, 2020; extended deadline for most employers: January 1, 2021
What: In an effort to eradicate workplace harassment based on gender, California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) released a free sexual harassment–prevention training program for nonsupervisory employees. The program is online, interactive, and mobile-friendly. Employers may use the newly released training program to meet the one-hour training requirement for nonsupervisory employees.
The training program allows employers to easily provide the required one hour of training to nonsupervisors. Employers are also required to provide two hours of training to supervisors every two years, and the state will be releasing a program for them in the future.
Employers must keep a record of their employees’ participation in sexual harassment–prevention training for at least two years, including employee’s name, date attended, a sign-in sheet, a copy of certificates issued, a description of the training, the trainer’s name, and a copy of written and recorded training materials.
How:
- If you are going to use the new program to meet the training requirement for nonsupervisory employees, advise employees about the availability of the new training program.
- Create a procedure for collecting and storing the necessary data regarding program attendance: employee’s name, date attended, a sign-in sheet, a copy of certificates issued, a description of the training, the trainer’s name, and a copy of written and recorded training materials.
- Update policies related to sexual harassment–prevention training as needed to incorporate the newly released program.
Additional Resources:
California Sexual Harassment Training Program
California Sexual Harassment Prevention for Employees FAQs
California Paid Family Leave Benefits Increased
Who: All employers and employees
When: Effective July 1, 2020
What: The new California SB 83 extends the maximum duration of paid family leave (PFL) benefits from six to eight weeks. The law is effective July 1, 2020.
An individual may receive the benefits under the state’s disability insurance program in order to 1) care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or domestic partner, or 2) bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child through foster care or adoption.
If approved, employees receive about 60% to 70% of their usual wages.
How:
- Review your leave policies and parental paid-leave benefits and amend as needed.
- Watch for additional changes in November. The bill calls for another proposed extension of benefits.
Additional Resources:
California Employment Development Department Paid Family Leave Information
