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NYS Sexual Harassment Prevention Training FAQ

Policy and contact information by work location

University of Rochester / URMC
Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Discriminatory Employment/Service Practices 
Report an issue to the Office of Equity and Inclusion at uofr.us/padh-report. The Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment (PADH) applies to: Faculty; staff; residents; fellows; postdoctoral appointees; student employees; students(1); interns (paid or unpaid); volunteers; and to all visitors (including patients, contractors, and vendors) to any University campus, facility and/or property, and to University sponsored activities and events, whether on University premises or not.

Read more policies and procedures

Highland Hospital

Harassment and Discrimination Policy Reference: Policy 130

Human Resources Contact: (585) 341-6700

Jones Memorial

Harassment and Discrimination Policy Reference: Policy S-4

Human Resources Contact: (585) 593-1100 x4018

Long Term Care

Highlands at Brighton
Harassment and Discrimination Policy Reference: Policy #130
Human Resources Contact: (588) 442-7960 x214

The Highlands Living Center
The Harassment and Discrimination Policy is available by contacting Human Resources at (585) 641-6244.

Highlands at Pittsford
The Harassment and Discrimination Policy is available by contacting Human Resources at (585) 641-6244.

Noyes Health

Harassment and Discrimination Policy Reference: PolicyStat ID:13923319

Human Resources Contact: (585) 335-4372

St. James Hospital

Harassment and Discrimination Policy Reference: PolicyStat ID: 9911751

Human Resources Contact: Director of Human Resources, (607) 385-3966

Thompson Health

Harassment and Discrimination Policy Reference: Policies 2.03 and 2.04

Human Resources Contact: Associate Services, (585) 396-6680

UR Medicine Homecare

Harassment and Discrimination Policy Reference: Policy #303

Human Resources Contact: (585) 274-4151

Policy translations

Access translated versions of the training in Albanian, Bengali, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, and Yiddish.

Visit the New York state site for versions in other languages

Frequently asked questions

I work at the University and also at an affiliate location and have been assigned this training through my accounts at both locations. Do I have to take the training multiple times?

No. You may use this link to request reciprocity of this course across multiple locations. Please note that you must be logged on through the URMC server or on VPN to access this web page.

You may contact URMedicine_EducationReciprocity@urmc.rochester.edu with any questions.

When is the deadline to complete this training requirement?
This year’s training module NYS Sexual Harassment Prevention Training (2024-2025) has a launch date of July 15, 2024 and must be completed before the end of the calendar year December 31, 2024 to be in compliance with NYS requirements. Please note, if you work for an affiliate location, please check with your HR department for launch and due dates as you may be on a different timeline.
Why do we have to take this training?

The University of Rochester and New York State require all employees to complete annual training on how to identify and react to workplace sexual harassment and discrimination. We are committed to a culture of respect and this training is an important component of our efforts to ensure all members of our community feel safe, respected, included, and valued. To that end, additional, optional education is offered through our learning management system to further support our efforts by focusing on a variety of topics related to inclusion and the prevention of various forms of discrimination and harassment.

This additional education can be found in MyPath/Achieve by searching the keyword: Path2Inclusion.

Who is required to take the training?

All staff and faculty regardless of title, rank, or type of employment who are employed full-time, part-time or paid TAR (time-as-reported) are assigned the online module through MyPath or Achieve.

Is this the same training that was launched in 2023?

Yes. Last year, Governor Hochul released updated guideline that are reflected within our policy and training content. This year’s module uses the exact NYS-provided content and scenarios. New content is in development and will take into consideration all feedback we have gathered and will continue to gather over the coming months. Please note, employees working in different states may be required to complete a different module based on their state-specific requirements.

How long will it take to complete this training?

While the time it takes for any individual to progress through the training may differ, the average amount of time it takes to complete this training is approximately 30-45 minutes. Please note that if you request an accommodation to complete the training in a format other than using the online module, the amount of time needed to cover the required content may vary.

What will happen if I do not complete this training?

Completion of this course is a requirement of your employment at the University. This training is both critically connected to the University’s values and mission and required by law. Failure to complete compliance-related activities may be noted in your performance evaluation or result in other disciplinary action.

What if I am out of work for an extended period and miss the deadline?

If you are out of work for any reason throughout the launch period, you must complete the training within 30 days of your return to work.

How do I request an extension?

There is no need to request an extension to the training deadline. The training must be completed within this calendar year and the current deadline is set to October 31, 2024. Any training completed after this due date, unless you are completing it as a new hire requirement or because you were out of work for an extended period, is out of compliance. Please remember that the training must be completed on paid work time.

Do I need to complete this training if I work remotely?

Yes. Even if you are not coming on-site on a regular basis, you must still have a clear understanding of the University’s Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Discriminatory Employment/Service Practices. It is possible for this policy to be violated at offsite events and virtual interactions such as email, texts, or virtual meetings.

Please remember that completing this training is considered a work task and must be completed during paid work time. Speak with your manager about scheduling the time you need to complete the training and be aware of any possible overtime hours you may incur.

Am I able to sign a waiver or test out so I can bypass taking the training module?

No. All employers in NYS are required to provide this training to all employees annually. If you cannot complete the online module for any reason, you may fill out a web form request to discuss possible alternative accommodations to fulfill the requirement.

Do I have to complete this training if I am retiring before the end of the year?

Yes. In addition to the possibility that plans for retirement may change, a personal plan for retirement does not impact our obligation by the state to provide training to all employees annually.

Do I have to complete this training if I have already completed a similar training with another employer during this calendar year?

Yes. The requirements of the training include providing access to our policies, contacts, reporting process, and available remediation and corrective measures. To ensure all employees have access to this information, they should take the University of Rochester provided training titled NYS Sexual Harassment Prevention Training (2024-2025).

Do I have to complete this training if I have already completed the NYS Sexual Harassment Prevention Training (2023-2024) as part of my new employee orientation or for any other reason during this calendar year?

No. This training is required annually, so if you have already completed any version during this calendar year, it should not be assigned to you again. If it is assigned to you in error, you may request to have it removed from your transcript by emailing mypathsupport@rochester.edu.  Next July, you will be included in the annual training assignment for incumbent staff.

Do I need to take this training? My situation is a little unique.

As a basic rule of thumb, if you are interacting with the University of Rochester community in any capacity other than as an independent contractor, you must still have a clear understanding of the University’s Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Discriminatory Employment/Service Practices. It is possible for this policy to be violated in at offsite event and virtual interactions such as email, texts, and virtual meetings.

If it is determined that you are not required to complete this training module for any reason, you are still required to review and understand the University of Rochester Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Discriminatory Employment/Service Practices (Policy 106). Please review the policy and submit any questions to PADH@rochester.edu.

Can I take this training from home?

Technically, yes.  Our learning management system (MyPath or Achieve) is a web-based application and can be accessed offsite; however, completing the training is considered a work task and must be completed during paid work time. Speak with your manager about scheduling the time you need to complete the training and be aware of any possible overtime hours you may incur. For anyone in an unpaid assignment or an assignment paid through a stipend or grant, completing this training is considered part of the work agreement.

In an effort to enhance accessibility and ease of taking the course, the content has been mobile-enabled. This means you are able to download the Cornerstone CSX application and complete the training through a mobile device such as a tablet or cellular phone. The instructions are located on the Help page within MyPath. If you have any technical difficulties completing the module through your mobile device, please switch to a computer.

Last year, the module was available in 15 languages. Will it be available in these additional languages again?

Yes. This year, NYS requires that the training content, policy, and reporting form all be available in 15 additional languages: Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Italian, Polish, Bengali, Urdu, French, Haitian-Creole, Japanese, Hindi, Albanian, Greek, and Yiddish. The policy and reporting form translations are available on the policy page of the University website and we have included a link within the training module to the NYS-provided transcripts of the training in the additional required languages.

Common technical questions

What can I do if I am trying to launch the training and it will not load?

Most issues with loading the training can be resolved with one of these three solutions:

What if I am having other technical issues while completing the training?

For technical issues within the module, please contact MyPathSupport@Rochester.edu. For computer-related issues, please contact the appropriate IT department for your area.

Is this module accessible?

Yes. The module is offered in 15 languages other than English. It has closed captioning and is also accessible for screen readers. For any additional accommodations, please submit a web form request.

For managers

What if an employee refuses to complete the training?

This training is required annually for all faculty and staff. Please work with your HR Business Partner to discuss the appropriate course of action which may include disciplinary action.

How do I access my team’s course completion summary report?

You can access the Training Progress Summary Pie Chart through MyPath by following these instructions. The search results show each team member and the actions they have taken with the course. You can determine who has completed the course, who is in progress with the training, and who has not yet launched the course.

Is there a separate version of the training for managers?

No. This year there is only one version of the training and it includes manager responsibilities.