New York employers have a lot to manage. Compliance tasks can easily slide to the bottom of the list, especially for small businesses, nonprofits, and lean professional offices.
But this one matters, and it applies more broadly than some employers realize.
In New York, employers must provide sexual harassment prevention training every year. Employers must also adopt a sexual harassment prevention policy that meets or exceeds the State’s minimum standards. That requirement applies to employers across the State, including very small employers. New York also allows online training, as long as it’s interactive and otherwise compliant.
Yes, This Applies Even to Very Small Employers
A lot of employers know they’re supposed to do annual training. The harder part is finding training people can get through without mentally checking out.
Let’s be honest: the State’s model materials are compliant, but they’re not exactly riveting. New York allows employers to use the State’s model training or their own training, as long as the training they use meets or exceeds the State’s minimum standards.
Those standards require training to be interactive and to cover core topics such as what sexual harassment is, examples of unlawful conduct, applicable State and federal laws, remedies, complaint avenues, and supervisors’ responsibilities.
That gives employers an important choice.
You donot have to use the State’s cookie-cutter training.
But you do have to use training that complies.
Employers Have Options, and Boring Isn’t Required
That’s where The Coppola Firm comes in.
We offer New York sexual harassment prevention training in two formats:
- Live training, at your workplace or at our office
- Asynchronous online training through coppolatrainings.com, for under $40 per seat
Our goal isn’t to turn a legal requirement into a sales pitch. It’s to make compliance easier for employers and more useful for employees.
Why This Is Challenging for Small Employers
Small employers often don’t have extra HR bandwidth. They need training that’s current, compliant, easy to assign, easy to complete, and easy to document.
They also want training that doesn’t feel like punishment.
That’s why our training is built by attorneys to be practical, compliant, and engaging.
What New York Actually Requires
New York requires training every year, and it requires more than a passive video. The training must be interactive. Employers also need to make sure employees receive the required sexual harassment prevention materials at hire and during annual training.
The State’s model materials also reflect modern workplace realities, including remote work, gender-based issues, retaliation, and a broader range of workplace settings.
So no, this isn’t something employers should treat as a stale, one-and-done obligation.
It’s an annual requirement, and it should be handled in a way that actually works for the people taking it.
What Employers Should Do Now
Don’t assume last year’s process is good enough. Take these steps now:
- Review your policy.
- Confirm your training is interactive and compliant.
- Make sure new hires get the right materials when they start.
- Put all employees on a consistent annual training schedule.
- Keep records showing who completed the training and when.
A quick review now can save you from a bigger problem later.
Live Training or Online Training?
For some employers, live training is the right fit. It creates space for questions, discussion, and real-time examples that match the workplace.
For others, online asynchronous training is the better option. It’s flexible, affordable, and easy to roll out. And when it’s done right, it can still be credible, thoughtful, and fully compliant.
That’s exactly what we’ve built at coppolatrainings.com.
Training that Checks the Box and Respects Your Team’s Time
If your organization needs annual New York sexual harassment prevention training, The Coppola Firm offers options that are practical, compliant, and easy to use. We provide live training for teams that want an in-person experience, and we also offer an online, asynchronous option for employers across New York State that want a straightforward, attorney-drafted program for under $40 per seat.
The State requires annual training. It doesn’t require employers to settle for training that’s dull, clunky, or hard to use.
Get Compliant Training Without the Usual Hassle
Need annual sexual harassment prevention training that meets New York’s requirements and won’t lose your team in the first five minutes?
The Coppola Firm offers live training and easy-to-use online training through coppolatrainings.com.
We’re here to help.
