How can sexual harassment training in the workplace protect my company from liability in Alaska?
Alaska Sexual Harassment Training Requirements:
While Alaska does not have any specific legal requirement for sexual harassment training, sexual harassment training in the workplace is highly recommended.
The reason for this is that a federal governing body called the EEOC describes and enforces sexual harassment and discrimination laws in the workplace. Read more at (EEOC Harassment). According to the EEOC sexual harassment and other forms of employment discrimination violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, (ADA).
Of the 31 workplace discrimination claims in Alaska in 2018, 44% were related to sexual harassment. The Alaska Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of a former employee who was sexually harassed by her former employer. In this case the sexual harassment had to do with giver her a disproportionate amount of strenous work, not allowing her into meeting that her male counterparts were attending and not answering radio communications while she was in the field. It was noted by the court that the employer had no anti-harassment policy and had no sexual harassment training.
In 2019, in Alaska Sexual Harassment Training Requirements is necessary for trainer and such employee who says she was sexually harassed and injured by her supervisor filed a 19 million dollar sexual harassment lawsuit against the state. The Alaska State Commission on Human Rights determined that the injury was deliberate retaliation and that the employee was the subject of sexual harassment and discrimination.
Proper training and knowledge of sexual harassment could have vastly limited the liability of the employers in these instances. There are a number of steps the EEOC recommends that employers take to reduce their chances of liability for sexual harassment claims.
- Implementing a strong and well understood sexual harassment policy.
- Providing a robust sexual harassment training program for training employees and supervisors.
- Establishing an effective complaint and grievance process, within which the employees do not have to fear retaliation.
- An employer should act Immediately to investigate any complaint or grievance.
- The employer should take immediate steps such as disciplinary action to stop harassment.
- Employees should be encouraged to confront the harasser directly and inform them that the conduct is inappropriate as well as informing management and Human Resources
Statistics and Legal Cases in Alaska Sexual Harassment Training Requirements
Sexual harassment claims remain a pressing issue in Alaska workplaces.
- In 2018, 44% of the 31 workplace discrimination claims filed in Alaska were related to sexual harassment.
- A recent Alaska Supreme Court case ruled in favor of an employee who was subjected to gender-based discrimination. Her employer assigned her excessive physical work, excluded her from meetings attended by male colleagues, and ignored her radio communications in the field. The court noted the employer’s lack of an anti-harassment policy and absence of sexual harassment training, which contributed to the case ruling in the employee's favor.
- In 2019, an Alaska state employee filed a $19 million sexual harassment lawsuit against the state, alleging workplace harassment and injury caused by her supervisor. The Alaska State Commission on Human Rights determined that the injury resulted from deliberate retaliation, further emphasizing the importance of workplace harassment policies and training.
These cases highlight the legal and financial risks of failing to implement workplace harassment prevention measures. Employers can mitigate risks and protect their employees by fostering a safe, respectful work environment through effective training programs.
Sexual Harassment Training Tip: Prevention is the BEST tool.
By ensuring that employees understand and are well trained in workplace sexual harassment policies, employers can greatly reduce their chances of being liable for monetary damages in sexual harassment cases
Our onsite Sexual Harassment training seminars are available in the following Alaska cities:
