California Harassment Prevention Training for Dental Offices: Who, How Long and How Often
Who must be trained
California Government Code §12950.1 applies to employers with five or more employees, counting part-time and temporary workers. In a dental office, “supervisor” often includes the office manager, lead assistant and the dentists who direct staff.
How long and how often
| Who | Minimum length | When |
|---|---|---|
| Non-supervisory staff | 1 hour | Within 6 months of hire, then every 2 years |
| Supervisors | 2 hours | Within 6 months of becoming a supervisor, then every 2 years |
| Seasonal or temporary staff hired for under 6 months | 1 hour | Within 30 calendar days or 100 hours worked, whichever comes first |
What it must cover
- What counts as unlawful harassment under California law, with practical examples.
- Abusive conduct (bullying).
- Harassment based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
- How to report, and protection from retaliation.
- For supervisors: their duty to act on complaints and how to prevent retaliation.
The training must be interactive. Online training counts if learners can ask a trainer a question and get an answer within two business days.
What else your office needs
- A written harassment prevention policy.
- The required Civil Rights Department poster and its information sheet for staff.
- Training records. The Civil Rights Department advises keeping them at least two years.
Common mistakes
- Training only the dentists and managers. Every employee needs it.
- Forgetting new hires until the next group training. The six-month clock starts on day one.
- Treating the office manager as non-supervisory. If they direct staff, they need the 2-hour version.
Our California Harassment Prevention program has a staff version (about 2 hours) and a supervisor version (about 3½ hours), both longer than the legal minimum, in English or Spanish. Learners can ask a trainer from any lesson, and every certificate is dated and verifiable. $19 a person, or included in the Complete plan.
Harassment prevention trainingRenewal chart for every programCommon questions
How often is California harassment training required?
Every two years, for practices with five or more employees. New hires and new supervisors must be trained within six months.
How long is California harassment training?
At least one hour for non-supervisory staff and at least two hours for supervisors.
Can California harassment training be done online?
Yes, if it is interactive and learners can ask a trainer a question and get an answer within two business days.
How long should harassment training records be kept?
The Civil Rights Department advises keeping them for at least two years.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Sources: California Civil Rights Department: harassment prevention training · California Government Code §12950.1.