The change comes as state officials grapple with the fallout of a sexual harassment and wrongful termination case that resulted in a $1.75 million settlement payment to a former Iowa Senate staffer.
Legislators and staff in the Iowa House of Representatives will be required to undergo sexual harassment training before the start of the next legislative session.
The move comes as state officials grapple with the fallout of a sexual harassment and wrongful termination case that resulted in a $1.75 million settlement payment to a former Iowa Senate staffer.
However, House Republicans spokesman Colin Tadlock said the new training is not a direct result of that case and had been part of internal discussions for months.
« We strive to provide the best possible work environment for our employees and are always looking to make improvements, » House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, said in a statement. « Hiring a human resources professional and updating our sexual harassment policies help accomplish that goal. »
Previously, House members and staffers were required to sign a form saying they had read the sexual harassment policy.
Now, they will be required to watch an online training provided by the state’s Department of Administrative Services and sign a form indicating they’ve done so.
The decision was part of an overall move to boost the House’s human resources presence, said Tadlock. The House earlier this year decided to hire an HR professional for the first time as well.
« We were lacking that in the past, just somebody with that type of expertise and knowledge to handle… evaluations, terminations, benefits — all of that kind of thing, » he said.
A request for comment was not immediately returned by a spokesman for Senate Republicans nor the secretary of the Senate.
There, Republican leaders have faced criticism for their response to the Anderson case, which stemmed from allegations of harassment primarily among Republican Senate staffers .
Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, initially declined to release the findings of an internal investigation into claims raised at the Anderson trial, despite Gov. Kim Reynolds’ calls for him to do so.
Dix also ignited a backlash when he announced the Senate would backtrack on its plans to hire an HR professional to handle sexual harassment complaints. Instead, he said the Senate would bring on an outside adviser to assist in addressing sexual harassment.
Just before Thanksgiving, Dix announced that former Iowa Senate president and U. S. ambassador Mary Kramer would serve as an unpaid adviser to help address workplace culture in the Senate. Kramer previously held executive human resource roles at Younkers department stores and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Dix also agreed to release the Senate’s internal report, which detailed allegations of at least one Senate Republican caucus staffer making sexually suggestive comments to others and Republican senators making comments about sexual preferences while on the Senate floor. The report also found that several staff members did not feel comfortable reporting instances of harassment out of a fear of retaliation.
Senate leaders have since said they would « re-engage » with the House « to identify and procure human resources assistance. »
