Preventing Sexual Harassment for Employees – Illinois Course Overview
Sexual harassment is a pervasive and persistent problem in our society and workplaces. In the wake of the #MeToo movement and the resulting nationwide conversation about sexual harassment, more people are coming forward and sharing their stories of being sexually harassed. In response, the State of Illinois passed the Workplace Transparency Act (WTA) in 2019, amending the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) to require employers to step up and do more to prevent sexual harassment in Illinois workplaces.
The Workplace Transparency Act expands the definition of unlawful harassment to include discrimination against a person because of their actual or perceived protected class or status, and requires all Illinois employers—including out-of-state employers with employees who work in Illinois—to provide annual sexual harassment prevention training to all employees. This comprehensive course provides employees with awareness of Illinois laws and issues relating to sexual harassment in the workplace, detailing employee rights and responsibilities when it comes to recognizing and reporting sexual harassment when it happens to them or others.
Preventing Sexual Harassment for Employees – Illinois Course Content
Lesson 1: Introduction and Objectives
Sexual harassment prevalence in society and workplaces, #MeToo movement impact and increased awareness, Illinois legislative response with Workplace Transparency Act (2019), amendments to Illinois Human Rights Act, annual training mandate for all Illinois employers, course objectives and learning outcomes, organizational commitment to harassment-free workplace, importance of employee awareness and action
Lesson 2: Defining Sexual Harassment
Legal definition of sexual harassment under federal and Illinois law, two forms of sexual harassment, Illinois Workplace Transparency Act expanded definition, unwelcome conduct requirement, examples of sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, single severe incident vs. pattern of conduct, reasonable person standard, impact on victim’s work performance and psychological well-being
Lesson 3: What the Laws Say
Federal law, Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) protections, Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) enforcement authority, protected characteristics under Illinois law, Illinois Workplace Transparency Act key provisions, employer liability for sexual harassment, employee right to work in harassment-free environment, retaliation prohibition, constructive discharge when harassment makes continued employment intolerable, comparison of federal and Illinois protections
Lesson 4: Preventing Sexual Harassment
Individual responsibility for professional workplace conduct, maintaining appropriate boundaries and respectful behavior, avoiding sexually explicit language, jokes, or comments, respecting others’ personal space and comfort levels, being aware of power dynamics in workplace relationships, speaking up promptly when conduct makes you uncomfortable, bystander intervention, understanding impact of your behavior on others, “just joking” defense doesn’t excuse harassment, organizational prevention measures, creating culture of respect and inclusion, understanding that off-duty conduct can affect workplace environment
Lesson 5: Reporting Sexual Harassment
Importance of reporting harassment promptly to stop behavior and protect others, internal reporting procedures, multiple reporting channels especially when supervisor is harasser, what to include in harassment report, documenting incidents as they occur, preserving evidence, employer’s duty to investigate complaints under Illinois law, protection against retaliation for good faith reporting, investigation process and employee cooperation, interim protective measures during investigation, external reporting options: Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) complaint process and 180-day filing deadline for state claims, EEOC complaint process, right to file lawsuit under Title VII and Illinois Human Rights Act
