Illinois Releases Model Training Program for Sexual Harassment Prevention

Illinois employers must train all employees on sexual harassment by December 31, 2020

To support the requirements of the Workplace Transparency Act signed into law in August 2019, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) has issued a model training program.  The Act requires that employers provide all employees with sexual harassment training by December 31, 2020.  In addition to the sexual harassment training, restaurant and bars are required to provide supplemental training specifically for their industry that complies with Section 2-110.

Employers should keep an internal record of training compliance to be made available for IDHR inspection upon request.  The records should include the name of the trainees, the date of training, the sign-in worksheets, copies of certificates of participation issued, the name of the training provider and a copy of all written and recorded materials. 

Employers failing to comply with the training obligations may face financial penalties based on the employer size, up to $5,000.