If your organization has employees in New York City, NYC sexual harassment training isn’t just a best practice. It’s the law. Since 2019, all NYC employers with 15 or more employees are required to provide annual anti-sexual harassment training. The goal? To prevent workplace harassment and promote a culture of respect. But just knowing about the requirement isn’t enough. Employers must understand the specific mandates and how they differ from New York State’s rules to stay compliant and reduce risk.
In this blog, we’ll walk through the key requirements, explain how NYC’s rules go beyond the state’s, and share how Emtrain helps organizations meet legal obligations while building healthier workplace cultures.
What Is NYC Sexual Harassment Training?
Under the New York City Human Rights Law, private employers with 15 or more employees (including interns) must provide interactive sexual harassment prevention training every year. This rule applies to any employee who works more than 80 hours in a calendar year and has been employed for at least 90 days even if they’re part-time or temporary.
So even if your company is based outside New York, if you have employees working those hours within the five boroughs, the law still applies to you.
How NYC’s Rules Go Beyond New York State Law
While New York State also requires annual sexual harassment prevention training for all employers with at least one employee, NYC adds an extra layer of responsibility. Many businesses don’t realize that complying with state law doesn’t mean they’re fully covered in New York City.
NYC-specific requirements include training on bystander intervention, more robust content about employee rights under city law, and a higher threshold for who must be trained. Employers must also distribute the city’s Sexual Harassment Fact Sheet to new hires and post an official Sexual Harassment Poster in both English and Spanish in the workplace.
If your current training program only meets New York State guidelines, you may be falling short of what’s required in NYC, and putting your business at risk of noncompliance.
What Must NYC Sexual Harassment Training Include?
To meet city standards, your training must cover all the core topics required by the state. For example, definitions of sexual harassment, examples of inappropriate behavior, complaint procedures, and retaliation protections. But NYC goes further by requiring additional content, including:
- Strategies for bystander intervention
- Detailed explanations of employees’ rights under NYC law
- Clarification of manager responsibilities in preventing and addressing harassment
Perhaps most importantly, the training must be interactive. That means it must engage employees through real-time questions, scenario-based learning, or opportunities for reflection. Passive slide decks or PDFs won’t meet the city’s standard.
What Are the Posting and Recordkeeping Requirements?
Alongside training, NYC employers must also maintain accurate records of who completed the training and when. These records must be kept for at least three years and made available in case of an audit.
Additionally, all workplaces must prominently display the NYC Commission on Human Rights’ Sexual Harassment Poster, and all new employees must receive a copy of the NYC Sexual Harassment Fact Sheet during onboarding. These steps are just as critical as the training itself.
Why Compliance Alone Isn’t Enough
Checking the legal boxes will help you avoid penalties. But it won’t necessarily improve workplace culture or prevent issues from arising. At Emtrain, we believe sexual harassment training should do more than cover the law. It should equip employees to recognize risky behavior, speak up when something feels off, and intervene respectfully when others need support.
That’s why our Preventing Harassment & Discrimination course is built to exceed compliance and drive real culture change. We use real-life scenarios, built-in pulse surveys, and interactive elements to make the content relevant and impactful. And yes, our training fully meets NYC’s requirements.
How Emtrain Helps You Meet NYC Requirements
With Emtrain’s harassment training solutions, employers can:
- Deliver interactive, city-compliant content
- Capture and store digital training records
- Ensure new hires receive the right documentation
- Embed bystander intervention into everyday conversations
- Access real-time analytics to measure risk and culture health
We don’t just help you stay compliant. We help you foster a workplace where everyone feels safe and respected.
NYC Sexual Harassment Training Is a Starting Point
NYC’s sexual harassment training requirements serve an important purpose: to ensure all employees understand their rights, their responsibilities, and how to maintain a respectful work environment. But smart employers go a step further.
When you treat training as an opportunity to strengthen culture you protect your people, your brand, and your bottom line.
