Ep. 582 Valentine’s Day and Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it can be a fun time of year to express comradery and friendship, but romantic advances should be kept out of the workplace. Rancho Mesa’s Alyssa Burley and Client Technology Specialist, Brenda Colby sit down to talk about sexual harassment prevention training requirements in the workplace.

Show Notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Rancho Mesa's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alyssa Burley

Guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Brenda Colby

Editor: Megan Lockhart

Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “Breaking News Intro” by nem0production

© Copyright 2025. Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

Transcript

Alyssa Burley: You’re listening to Rancho Mesa’s StudioOne™ podcast, where each week we break down complex insurance and safety topics to help your business thrive.  I’m your host, Alyssa Burley, and I’m joined by Brenda Colby, Client Technology Specialist with Rancho Mesa, and we’re going to talk about sexual harassment prevention training requirements in the workplace.

Brenda, welcome to the show.

Brenda Colby: Happy to be here, Alyssa.

Well as you know, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and love is in the air, but sexual harassment is still illegal. So, so let’s talk about it.

AB: Yes it is, it is always still illegal. But it can be a fun time of year to express comradery and friendship, but those romantic advances should be kept out of the workplace.

So Brenda, what are the requirements for harassment prevention training and how can employers make sure they are in compliance?

BC: Well, California employees need to complete a sexual harassment prevention training course every two years. And non-supervisory employees must complete one hour of training, while supervisors must receive two hours of training.

And the California Civil Rights Department provides free online training for both types of employees in a number of languages.

And, for any new employee must be trained within six months of their hire.

AB: Yes, and for businesses outside of California, be sure to check your state’s requirements, as it may be different from California’s law.

So what type of documentation are California employers required to keep for these trainings?

BC: Well, California law requires employers to keep documentation of trainings for a minimum of two years. And this documentation should include: the names of the employees trained, the date of training, the sign in sheet (if used), a copy of all certificates of attendance or completion (if issued), the type of training, a copy of all written or recorded materials that comprise the training, and the name of the training provider.

AB: Alright, well Brenda, what resources does Rancho Mesa offer to our clients for sexual harassment prevention?

BC: So we can provide a number of resources through our RM365 HRAdvantage portal including: the use of the HR portal to submit harassment-related questions and get answers from real HR experts. We also have a PDF version of the instructions on how to complete the Sexual Harassment Prevention Training though the State of California and a PDF of frequently asked questions as well.

Plus, clients having clearly outlined policies in their employee handbook that address what behaviors will not be tolerated, what their company’s reporting process is, and what steps employers will take if any issues arise can also help keep employees free from any confusion on what is acceptable behavior in the workplace. Clients can use the smart employee handbook builder and access sample policies within the HR Portal as well.

AB: That’s all really good information to keep in mind and a lot of great resources, too. So Brenda, if listeners have questions about using the HR portal, what’s the best way to get in contact with you?

BC: As always, clients can contact me at bcolby@ranchomesa.com or call me directly at (619) 486-6562.

AB: Alright, well Brenda, thank you for joining me in StudioOne.

BC: Thanks for having me.

AB: Thanks for tuning in to our latest episode produced by StudioOne. If you enjoyed what you heard, please share this episode and subscribe. For more insights like this, visit us at ranchomesa.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.