A new Louisiana law taking effect on January 1 requires all state agencies to adopt a sexual harassment policy making clear that unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other inappropriate sexual conduct creating a hostile work environment are prohibited behaviors.
The law also requires that the policy must contain a comprehensive grievance process, and any actions taken on complaints received by an agency must be documented. The new law also requires all state employees to undergo at least one hour of training annually on preventing sexual harassment.
Agencies must maintain records on the training requirement, and every agency must produce an annual report stating:
- Number and percentage of employees who completed the training;
- Number of sexual harassment complaints received by the agency;
- Number of complaints that resulted in disciplinary action; and
- Amount of time it took to resolve each complaint.
For more information on the new sexual harassment law, see the June issue of Louisiana Employment Law Letter.
Minia E. Bremenstul is an attorney with Jones Walker in New Orleans, Louisiana. She can be reached at mbremenstul@joneswalker.com or 504-582-8603.