Anti-Harassment Training Requirements: California vs. New York

California: SB 1343 Requirements

California requires all employers with 5 or more employees to provide anti-harassment training. Supervisors must receive 2 hours of training, non-supervisory employees must receive 1 hour. Training must be completed within 6 months of hire and repeated every 2 years. The training must cover sexual harassment, abusive conduct, and harassment based on all protected categories under FEHA.

New York State and NYC Requirements

New York State requires annual anti-harassment training for all employees - there is no minimum employer size. NYC adds additional requirements: the training must be interactive, cover bystander intervention, and explain the complaint process for both internal and external (EEOC, NYC Commission on Human Rights) channels. NYC also requires training to cover the specific protections under the NYC Human Rights Law.

Key Differences

The biggest difference is frequency: California requires training every 2 years, while New York requires it annually. California has a minimum employer size threshold (5 employees), while New York applies to all employers. Both states require training within the first year of hire, but California gives 6 months while New York requires it as soon as practicable.

Best Practices for Multi-State Employers

If you have employees in both California and New York, the simplest approach is to follow the stricter standard: provide annual interactive training that covers the requirements of both states. This means 2 hours for supervisors and 1 hour for everyone else, delivered annually, covering all protected categories from both FEHA (California) and the NYC Human Rights Law. Keep records of completion for at least 3 years.