Legal Question in Sexual Harassment in Connecticut

Re: What sexual harassment training does the law require of employers?

Thank you for your inquiry. As a former in-house chief labor & employment attorney now in private practice, I am familiar with what is required of employers in this area.

In 1998, two US Supreme Court cases held that employers are strictly liable for the sexual harassment committed by their supervisors and managers. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Employers, however, can take steps outlined in these cases to mitigate/minimize their damages resulting from the acts of their supervisors and managers. One of the key steps - among several - is conducting sexual harassment training on a regular basis for supervisors, managers and employees, and keeping records of that training. Hopefully, with such training, employers can avoid the issue in the first instance.

Federal law extends to those employers with 15 or more employees. Most state laws cover employers with 4 or more employees. Some states - Connecticut is one - mandate such training.

I have conducted numerous such training programs and advised over the years how such programs can become part of a much broader strategy of legal protection.

Please feel free to contact me or consult www.tremitilaw.com if you would like additional information. I would be delighted to assist you. Again, thank you for your inquiry.