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Sexual harassment training rules in California, Connecticut and Illinois
California, Connecticut and Illinois each have a law that requires sexual harassment training at work. Each state sets which employers must train. The federal EEOC encourages employers to take steps against harassment and lists training as one of them. California requires 1 hour, or 2 for supervisors, every two years. Connecticut requires 2 hours, and Illinois requires training once a year.
By State Cert GuideChecked against the sources listed below.
The steps, in order
Check your state
California, Connecticut and Illinois each have a state law; the EEOC encourages training
Count employees
California starts at 5 employees, Connecticut at 3, Illinois at more than 1
Use the free course
All three states provide free training
Follow the schedule
California repeats every two years, Illinois every year
Steps in order: check your state's agency page, count your employees against the state's threshold, start with the state's free course, follow the state's schedule.
What the rule says
What does the federal EEOC say about training?
The EEOC encourages employers to take appropriate steps to prevent and correct unlawful harassment. It names anti-harassment training for managers and employees among the ways to make clear that harassment will not be tolerated.
Which federal laws make harassment unlawful?
The EEOC says harassment is a form of employment discrimination that violates Title VII, the ADEA and the ADA.
Which employers do those laws cover?
Employers with 15 or more employees under Title VII and the ADA. Employers with 20 or more under the ADEA.
What does California require?
Employers of 5 or more employees must train their staff every two years. Non-supervisory employees get 1 hour and supervisors get 2 hours.
calcivilrights.ca.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Is there a free California course?
Yes. The state's Civil Rights Department offers free online courses, one for supervisors and one for non-supervisors.
calcivilrights.ca.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
What does Connecticut require?
Employers with 3 or more employees must provide 2 hours of training to all employees. An employer with fewer than 3 employees still has to train its supervisory employees.
Is there a free Connecticut course?
Yes. CHRO provides a free online course you can take on demand.
What does Illinois require?
Employers must provide sexual harassment prevention training to all employees once a year.
dhr.illinois.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Which Illinois employers does it cover?
The state agency says its requirements apply to all companies that have more than one employee and operate in Illinois.
dhr.illinois.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
What happens if an Illinois employer doesn't train?
It may get a notice to show cause, which gives it 30 days to comply. If it still isn't compliant after 30 days, the state agency will ask the Illinois Human Rights Commission to issue a civil penalty.
dhr.illinois.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Is there a free Illinois option?
Yes. IDHR provides free model training programs and resources to help employers educate their workforce.
dhr.illinois.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Check your state's page
Where people go wrong
- You assume your state has no rule because it isn't listed here. This guide covers only these three states.
- You treat the EEOC's word "encouraged" as a rule, or skip it because it isn't one. Check your state's page either way.
- You pay for a course that your employer may have to provide. Read the state's page before you buy.
Questions
Who pays for the training in California?
The employer. California says the employer, not the employee, provides the training and bears any costs.
Do California employees who work outside the state need the training?
No. They count toward whether the employer is covered, but they aren't required to be trained themselves.
When is the next California deadline?
January 1, 2027, according to the Civil Rights Department.
Does a Connecticut private employer also need domestic violence training?
No. The 1 hour domestic violence training applies only to state agencies.
Can an Illinois employer write its own training?
Yes, if the program covers four areas: what sexual harassment is under Illinois law, real examples of unlawful conduct, the legal remedies under federal and state law, and what the employer must do to prevent, investigate and address it.
Your next step
Check your own state's agency page before you buy anything. For California, see the Civil Rights Department training page. For Connecticut, see the CHRO required trainings page. For Illinois, see the IDHR compliance page and the IDHR training page.
Sources we read
- www.eeoc.gov › harassment · read Nov 13, 2026
- calcivilrights.ca.gov › Sexual Harassment Prevention Training For Employers FAQ ENG · read Nov 13, 2026
- portal.ct.gov › required posting and trainings · read Nov 13, 2026
- dhr.illinois.gov › state of illinois sexual harassment prevention training model · read Nov 13, 2026
- dhr.illinois.gov › sexual harassment prevention · read Nov 13, 2026
Who publishes this guide
State Cert Guide is an independent guide to what each state requires. If a fact on this page is wrong, tell us and we fix it.