Beyond Compliance: Why Sexual Harassment Training Is a Business Imperative

Proactive training and clear policies aren’t just legal safeguards—they’re essential to building safer, stronger, and more productive workplaces.

Although sexual harassment in the workplace has been considered an “unlawful employment practice” for decades, celebrity perpetrators, such as Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, and social movements, such as the #METOO movement, have increased knowledge and awareness of this pervasive problem in workplaces around the globe. It has also been the impetus behind robust legislation that places compliance mandates on employers while increasing employee protections.

Sexual harassment in the workplace has impactful, negative consequences on the victim, the workforce, and the organization as a whole. This type of conduct deteriorates both the physical and mental health of employees; decreases job satisfaction, morale and motivation; damages careers and reputations; increases safety risks and accidents, as well as absenteeism and employee turnover; creates legal risks and litigation potential and simply hurts the bottom line by causing productivity loss.

Currently, a small minority of states mandate sexual harassment training, which include California, Connecticut, Maine, Delaware, Washington, Illinois, and New York and the District of Columbia. In addition, other states, such as Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont encourage sexual harassment training.

Today, although you may not operate your business in a jurisdiction where anti-harassment training is required, it is clear that it is a best practice (and frankly expected) in today’s complex and litigious world. Training is a simple, proactive step that your organization can take to mitigate risk, protect your employees, improve performance and safety in the workplace, and prevent legal and regulatory issues.

I encourage businesses all over to be pro-active, rather than reactive, by drafting compliant and protective policies; by effectively investigating all claims concerning workplace issues; and by providing anti-harassment, anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation training. These simple tasks will improve your workplace and allow you to focus on running and growing your business.