The lives of employees in the United States were irrevocably changed with the COVID-19 pandemic as waves of offices shut-down and workers were transitioned to virtual workspaces. It was at this time that we collectively learned the meaning of a “Zoom” call and instant messaging/emails replaced water cooler conversations among colleagues. Employees in various industries naturally hoped that they would no longer confront instances of sexual harassment as in person contact no longer became a reality of day-to-day interactions. Unfortunately, sexual harassment has adapted to these changed circumstances and in many cases has become even more prevalent, secretive, and difficult to combat in the new virtual world, creating issues and blurring the lines of appropriate professional conduct.

While companies in New York and employees have been required to adhere to new sexual harassment guidelines since prior to the pandemic, with new policies and training requirements implemented previously in October 2019, trainings and policy requirements are now in need of further revision. Updating policies and training policies is critical to effectively responding to new realities of the virtual workplace.