Harassment Photo Credit: iStockphoto.comM

A new report from the Delaware Department of Human Resources is calling for an overhaul to the state's sexual harassment policies after finding major gaps in existing training and prevention programs.

According to the report, prepared by DHR Secretary Saundra Ross Johnson, only 9,000 of the approximately 14,000 executive branch employees have completed voluntary sexual harassment training since 2006, and 1,500 have failed to even acknowledge reading the current policy regarding anti-discrimination, workplace harassment and retaliation.

Released March 13, the 15-page analysis found that inconsistencies across 16 agencies have resulted in a muddled approach to handling anti-discrimination complaints and investigations. It recommended a centralized system for tracking and processing complaints and a new mandatory training regiment with periodic refreshers for all employees.