Texas State Sexual Harassment Training Requirements

Texas State Sexual Harassment Training Requirements:

While Texas does not have any specific legal requirement for sexual harassment training for non-government workers, it is required for all state employees. Sexual harassment training in the workplace is highly recommended for private employers as well. Workplace sexual harassment training can help an employer avoid costly lawsuits and reduce liability to the employer. 

Texas’ Employment Discrimination Laws require all state employers and employees to attend and complete sexual harassment training within 30 days of employment, and additional sexual harassment training every two years of continued employment. The Texas Labor Commission Commission requires any employee of the state who completes the training to sign a statement verifying the employees attendance to the training program and have it filed in their personnel file. See Tex. Lab. Code § 21.010.

The EEOC is the federal governing body that describes and enforces sexual harassment and discrimination laws. 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).

There are a number of steps the EEOC recommends that employers take to reduce their chances of liability for sexual harassment claims.

1. Implementing a strong and well understood sexual harassment policy.
2. Providing a robust sexual harassment training program for training employees and supervisors.
3. Establishing an effective complaint and grievance process, within which the employees do not have to fear retaliation.
4. An employer should act Immediately to investigate any complaint or grievance.
5. The employer should take immediate steps such as disciplinary action to stop harassment.
6. 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.

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.