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Employer Notification to Disseminate Updated Sexual Harassment Brochure or Poster to California Employees

12/11/17

By: Elizabeth G. Fellmeth
On April 1, 2016, stronger discrimination and harassment regulations under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”) took effect. In addition to distributing California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (“DFEH”) brochure on sexual harassment (DFEH-185), the new regulations require employers to prepare and disseminate their own harassment, discrimination, and retaliation prevention policy.  A summary of the new FEHA regulations can be found here.  The DFEH also issued a workplace harassment guide for employers found here, which provides recommendations for implementing an effective anti-harassment program.
While employers may have spent the last year implementing the new regulations, the DFEH recently issued an updated DFEH-185 brochure replacing the earlier version (found here in English and here in Spanish).  The new brochure is also available in a printable poster format (found here in English and here in Spanish).
State law requires employers to disseminate the new information to their employees.  Employers can fulfil their obligations by providing new hire and current employees with a hardcopy or email copy of the updated brochure or new poster.  To ensure receipt of the brochure or poster, employers should include an acknowledgment form for employees to sign and return.
If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Fellmeth at efellmeth@fmglaw.com.