New York State issued new guidelines for sexual harassment policies and procedures for all employers in the state. The new guidelines, issued last week, go into effect today. As such, Syracuse University has made the necessary modifications to its Sexual Harassment, Abuse and Prevention policy and will also be implementing new mandatory sexual harassment training for all employees on a yearly basis. The changes both comply with new regulations and ensure that Syracuse University is following best practices in this vital area.
The amendments to the University’s policy include a more comprehensive description of external resources where victims of sexual harassment or discrimination can turn for assistance beyond the University, a new sexual harassment complaint form, and greater clarity on the definition of retaliation, which is already unlawful under the policy. For example, the revised policy clearly states that retaliation against a complainant or a witness involved in a complaint is prohibited. Also stated in this revised policy is that an individual who retaliates against someone may be subject to disciplinary action.
Under new training guidelines, the University must ensure that sexual harassment training include an interactive component. That means providing the opportunity for questions and answers or feedback during live training, and adding an interactive component to web-based training. Syracuse University’s Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services facilitates an interactive web-based training that will be made available to all faculty and staff beginning Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Live training sessions will also continue to be held across campus.
By Oct. 9, 2019, employees, including all faculty and staff, must complete sexual harassment training annually. That training will include interactive opportunities, examples of unlawful conduct, resources where employees can take their complaints, remedies available to victims and the responsibilities of supervisors. This training complements resources, programs and initiatives currently offered to Syracuse University community members.
For more information about the new guidelines and training opportunities, contact 315.443.4018 or equalopp@syr.edu.
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