California’s sexual harassment prevention training requirements mandate inclusion of bystander intervention training components.
This means employers must train employees to:
- Recognize potentially problematic conduct
- Understand safe and appropriate intervention strategies
- Report concerns through proper channels
Bystander training is intended to promote early intervention and prevent escalation of harassment or hostile work environments.
In California employment litigation, evidence that employees were trained on bystander responsibilities may strengthen an employer’s defense that it took reasonable preventative measures.
