Yes. The regulations require Registered Apprenticeship Program sponsors to maintain programs free from harassment, intimidation, and retaliation based on an apprentice’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), sexual orientation, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information. It is a best practice for programs to promote positive workplace environments for apprentices that are altogether free from harassment.
Are specific groups protected by the anti-harassment provisions in the regulations?
Equal Employment Opportunity
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The apprenticeship Equal Employment Opportunity regulations require that all Registered Apprenticeship Program sponsors take the following actions to prevent harassment in their programs:
A. Provide anti-harassment training to all individuals connected with operation of the apprenticeship program, including journeyworkers who regularly work with and/or mentor apprentices. Such training must:
- Communicate that unlawful harassing conduct will not be tolerated.
- Define the types of conduct that are unlawful.
- Explain that apprentices have the right to file a harassment complaint, without fear of retaliation, and provide information on how to do so.
B. Ensure that all facilities and apprenticeship activities are available regardless of an apprentice’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), sexual orientation, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information.
C. If the sponsor provides restrooms or changing facilities, they must provide separate or single-user facilities to assure privacy between the sexes.
D. Establish and implement procedures for handling and resolving complaints about harassment, intimidation, or retaliation.
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The training must be more than a mere transmittal of information. It must include participation by trainees, such as attending an in-person training session or completing an interactive training online. Sponsors that already provide anti-harassment training may modify their existing training to include the provisions specified in the apprenticeship Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations. Ready-to-use anti-harassment training materials are available on the Prevent Harassment Apprenticeship EEO webpage.
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Harassment in the workplace is unwelcome or offensive conduct that has the purpose or effect of being detrimental to an employee’s work performance, professional advancement, and/or mental health. Harassment against apprentices or applicants for apprenticeship programs can be against the law if it is because of certain characteristics – including their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information – and if it creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment or results in an adverse employment action.
Harassment is not limited by gender identity or sexual orientation. Likewise, a target of harassment and their harasser may identify as the same sex and/or share the same sexual orientation. Visit the Prevent Harassment page for more information.
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Yes. Anti-harassment training materials are available for apprenticeship sponsors on the Prevent Harassment Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) webpage. These materials include:
- A short, introductory animated video with associated knowledge checks, which sponsors can download to use as part of their anti-harassment training
- A sample PowerPoint presentation that includes scenarios that can be customized for each sponsor’s program, as well as discussion questions to engage participants and managers and illustrate key learning points
In keeping with the apprenticeship EEO regulations, these resources should be used in a training setting that allows trainees to participate actively.
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