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Certifying Organizations
Course Description
In this Washington Sexual Harassment Prevention: Employees course, you’ll learn how to recognize, report, and respond to sexual harassment in any work setting. We’ll also explore legal protections under Washington law and examine how workplace culture affects prevention. These tools support respectful communication and early action. To support that goal, we’ll connect general sexual harassment prevention strategies with Washington-specific rules.
We’ll discuss employee responsibilities, provide examples of how harassment looks in daily interactions, and outline strategies for responding as an employee or bystander. You’ll build the confidence to speak up and develop the awareness needed to support coworkers. We’ll also address retaliation protections, reporting options through the WSHRC, and special requirements for isolated and high-risk workers to provide a comprehensive understanding of Washington’s workplace standards. By the end of this course, you’ll know how to take appropriate steps when sexual harassment occurs and how to contribute to a safer, more respectful environment.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize sexual harassment in digital and in-person work settings
- Report concerns using internal procedures and Washington state options
- Respond appropriately to inappropriate or harassing behavior
- Support coworkers through safe, respectful bystander actions
- Apply Washington-specific rights, protections, and reporting standards
Skills You Will Learn
- Compliance Requirements
- Legal Knowledge
- Sexual Harassment Awareness
- Workplace Safety
What You'll Learn
- Define sex discrimination and sexual harassment, including quid pro quo and hostile work environment
- Recognize employee rights in handling and reporting sexual harassment, including filing a complaint
- Understand how the four new Washington State laws expand protections for employees and employer liability
- Identify the training requirements and other sexual harassment regulations that apply to employers
- Apply best practices and model policies for employers to create a safe workplace
- Identify retaliation and learn how to protect yourself and others against it
Key Takeaways
- Federal protections for employees began with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender), and national origin.
- Following the #MeToo movement, individual states began enacting laws adding greater protections against sexual harassment and greater restrictions on employers.
- Washington State's employment discrimination law reduced the threshold for employer liability from 15 employees under Title VII to eight employees.
- Four new Washington State bills expand employee rights and protections while increasing employer responsibilities and liability for workplace sexual harassment.
- The Washington State Human Rights Commission work group developed best practices and model policies focused on accountability, proper resource allocation, and good communication to produce a safe work environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for employees, covering Washington sexual harassment prevention, employee rights, and how to handle, report, and protect against sexual harassment in the workplace.
What does this course cover?
It defines sexual harassment and sex discrimination, explains both the original and newly passed Washington State discrimination legislation, addresses each of the four new state bills and how they expand employee rights and employer liability, and provides best practices and model policies from the Washington State Human Rights Commission work group.
What forms of sexual misconduct does the course address?
The course addresses sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, quid pro quo, sexual assault, and hostile work environment, as well as sexual harassment behaviors in remote work environments.
Does the course explain retaliation?
Yes. The course covers what retaliation is, protection against retaliation, and how to protect yourself and others.
What skills does this course help build?
It builds skills in diversity training, employment protection legislation, HR regulations, labor law, labor legislation, and sexual harassment awareness.
Professional Certifications and Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Recertification Credits: 1.75
This Program has been pre-approved for (Number of recertification credit hours & credit type) toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).
