State employees begin sexual harassment training

After the passage of House Enrolled Act 1309 last month, state executive branch employees are beginning newly mandated workplace sexual harassment training today.

During the bill signing last week, all three branches of Indiana government shared detailed plans to further address workplace and sexual harassment prevention.

Prior to HEA 1309, lawmakers were not required to take sexual harassment training and no specific sexual harassment policy governed their conduct.
Now, the legislature is set to write such a policy and institute similar training, along with judicial branch employees.

“In light of the many recent, high-profile sexual workplace harassment cases, we decided in this office to take another hard look at what our policy was currently and to re-examine what enhancement can, and more importantly, should be done,” stated Gov. Eric Holcomb. “There is absolutely no room for harassment in the workplace — period.”

All executive branch employees will be enrolled into an improved and modernized workplace and sexual harassment prevention computer-based training module, according to Britni Saunders, director of the Indiana State Personnel Department.

All employees are required to complete this training no later than April 30. This computer-based module content will be updated and required annually.

All executive branch agency heads will also attend a workplace and sexual harassment prevention workshop in June. This additional in-person agency head training will be updated and required annually.

A first phase of statewide manager and supervisor training will take place in June. This computer-based training will precede a second phase later this year that will include in-person training workshops.

These formal and social learning opportunities will incorporate a wide range of topics, including the manager and supervisor role in preventing workplace and sexual harassment.