New sexual harassment prevention training requirement for non-supervisory employees begins in 2020

Stanford is expanding its sexual harassment prevention training programs in response to a new California law.

Senate Bill 1343, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020, mandates training in sexual and gender-based harassment and abusive conduct for non-supervisory employees every two years. At Stanford, the law affects all postdoctoral scholars and non-supervisory employees, including academic staff, student employees and temporary and casual employees hired directly by the university.

“Maintaining a workplace free of sexual harassment is a major priority for Stanford, and since 2005, the university has required training for supervisors and faculty,” said Elizabeth Zacharias, VP for University Human Resources.

“We have also offered optional training for non-supervisors for quite some time. Now that it’s mandated by the State of California, we must ensure that we are in compliance by the end of 2020. Because it affects about 20,000 Stanford employees, implementing these new requirements will be a major effort.”

Early adopter program

To help kick start the program, the university is offering an “early adopter program” to most non-supervisory employees with the option to complete the training this fall, which will fulfill the 2020 training requirements. Those wishing to take advantage of this early opportunity must complete the training by Nov. 15, 2019.

In early 2020, all employees who did not complete the early adopter program will be automatically assigned to the training and receive a STARS training assignment email. Postdoctoral scholars are currently assigned to this training and should continue to follow the instructions and complete the course by the deadline provided on their STARS assignment email. Unless specifically instructed to complete this training in 2019, contingent (temporary, casual) employees and student employees are not eligible to enroll in the early adopter program.

The non-supervisory employee training at Stanford will be offered online in English and beginning in 2020, a Spanish option will be added. The course is designed to meet all accessibility standards. A limited number of classroom sessions will also be available.

The training educates university community members about illegal forms of discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual violence. The course outlines resources, clarifies the obligation to report, and provides information on how to assist survivors and be a positive “upstander” in the Stanford community.

Faculty and supervisors at Stanford take a separate sexual harassment prevention training course. By the end of 2019, more than 8,400 faculty and supervisors will have completed their training.

For more information about the new mandate and harassment prevention training, please contact the Sexual Harassment Policy Office at shpo-training@stanford.edu.