December 13, 2022

Employer Liability for Sexual Harassment – WG Offers Training Sessions

According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), employer liability for sexual harassment has been a controversial issue in the courts. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that an employer is always liable for a hostile work environment created by a supervisor when the discrimination is a tangible employment action (significant change in employment status such as hiring, firing, failing to promote or a change in benefits).

In a hostile environment case with no tangible job action, “the employer is only presumed liable for a supervisor’s harassment. The employer may have an affirmative defense against such a claim, and avoid liability, if the employer can show that it had and enforced a policy against sexual harassment and that the complaining employee unreasonably failed to take advantage of preventive or corrective opportunities that the employer provided.”

SHRM strongly suggests to “establish a written nondiscrimination policy, including a specific policy against sexual (and all other forms of) harassment.” This should be published in the employee handbook. They also suggest to conduct regular training seminars on sexual harassment and require mandatory attendance, keep records of attendees at each session and investigate ALL complaints of sexual harassment.

Courts encourage employers to educate their workers about the policy by conducting training for managers and employees. Western Growers is offering training sessions every few months to cover these topics and other best practices to combat harassment issues in the workplace.

TRAINING DETAILS

COST:

  • WG Member: $60
  • Non-WG Member: $75

LOCATIONS & DATES: 

Irvine

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Western Growers (15525 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine, CA 92618)

Imperial

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Farm Credit Services Southwest (485 Business Parkway, Imperial, CA 92251)

Fresno

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

WG Fresno Field Office (7575 N. Palm Ave., Ste. 101, Fresno, CA 93711)

Santa Maria

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Radisson Hotel (3455 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria, CA 93455)

Modesto

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

WG Modesto Field Office (4230 Kiernan Ave., Suite 100, Modesto, CA 95356)

Tulare

Monday, April 22, 2019

International Agri-Center (4500 S. Laspina Street, Tulare, CA 93274)

Bakersfield

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

WG Bakersfield Field Office (4900 California Ave., Tower B, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Western Growers also provides training for non-management employees. For more information, please contact Lupe Cuevas at (949) 885-2296 or Adriana Robles at (949) 885-2297.