Harassment prevention training requirements by state

Learn about states with harassment prevention training requirements and get helpful resources.

Harassment prevent training teaches employees about harassment, their rights, and how to report incidents. It aims to create a safer, more inclusive workplace by helping employees:

• Spot inappropriate behavior.
• Understand their rights.
• Report issues without fear of retaliation.

Harassment prevention training matters because:

• Many states require employers to provide harassment prevention training. Rules vary by:
  
  • Employee size thresholds.
  • Deadlines for compliance.
  • Specific content that must be covered.
• It's best practice in all 50 states.
• It helps prevent harassment and shows the company’s commitment to a respectful work environment.

How Gusto can help

Gusto offers training resources and tools to help employers stay compliant. For more info, visit our article on Gusto Learning.

Harassment prevention training requirements by state

Local city rules may add extra requirements. For detailed guidance, consider consulting an employment attorney.

After checking the laws, you can use Gusto Learning to offer required trainings. 

This table was last updated Mar 27, 2025.

State	Requirement Employers with...	Training frequency	Agency and website	Additional info
California	5 or more employees or contractors*	Every 2 years	Civil Rights Department	Information for employers Information for employees *California does not require you to train contractors, but you still have to count them when figuring out if training is required for your team.
Connecticut	3 or more employees	Every 10 years	Commission on Human Right and Opportunities	FAQs, written materials, and posters
Delaware	50 or more employees	Every 2 years	Delaware Department of Labor	Chamber of Commerce guidelines
Illinois	1 or more employees	Annual	Illinois Department of Human Rights	Employer training standards FAQs *If an employee is based outside of Illinois but regularly interacts with team members in Illinois, even if they are not physically present in Illinois, they should be trained.
Maine	15 or more employees	Every 3 years	Human Rights Commission State of Maine
New York	1 or more employees	Annual	Division of Human Rights	Harassment prevention model and training resources
Washington	8 or more employees	Every 3 years	Human Rights Commission
Washington D.C.	Employers with tipped workers	Annual	D.C. Office of Human Rights	FAQs