As discussed in our prior client advisories (here, here, and here), New York City’s Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act (the “Act”) requires employers with fifteen or more employees to conduct annual sexual harassment training, effective as of April 1, 2019. Covered employers are required to provide the first of these mandatory annual training sessions by December 31, 2019. Earlier this month, the New York City Commission on Human Rights (the “Commission”) published an interactive training video which satisfies the minimum requirements of the Act, as well as of the requirements imposed by similar legislation at the State level. Use of the City’s own online training video is not required; rather, employers may elect to provide training to their employees that is specific to their work environment, as long as it meets the training requirements described in the State and City statutes.

The Act requires employers to cover certain specific topics in their sexual harassment training, including, among other things, an explanation that sexual harassment violates applicable federal, state and local law. A summary of the Act’s training requirements is available in the Commission’s Frequently Asked Questions.

Covered employers should develop plans to meet their training obligations under the Act, and must maintain records of all training conducted in accordance with the Act, including a signed employee acknowledgment, for at least three years.