Sexual harassment in the workplace is an extremely serious problem that can have devastating consequences for both the victim and the organization. As such, organizations must be proactive in taking steps to create a safe workplace and prevent instances of sexual harassment from occurring. However, many organizations may be tempted to use online training programs as a quick and cost-effective solution for sexual harassment training. Unfortunately, relying solely on online training courses for this critical subject does not provide adequate interactive experiences, leaving employees with limited knowledge on recognizing and addressing harassment in their workplace.
What is wrong with online sexual harassment training?
When it comes to online sexual harassment training, there are several key elements that tend to be missing. First, it is more difficult to convey the seriousness of the issue when using a medium like online coursework rather than face-to-face interactions. Employees need to understand why these policies are so crucial and comprehend the damaging impacts of inappropriate behavior in order to take them seriously. Secondly, online courses cannot offer meaningful interaction between peers or allow team members to practice scenarios unique to their organization and share in conversations about areas where improvement may be needed. And thirdly, no amount of video or text-based instruction can uncover current situations that need urgent attention within an organization or inspire meaningful dialogue between employees and supervisors about preventing future incidents from occurring.
Benefits of in-person sexual harassment training
At ROI Safety Services we believe that a comprehensive approach is essential for effective sexual harassment prevention within any organization. We believe that a blended approach combining interactive webinars with self-directed learning activities provides greater assurance that vital information is being properly absorbed by all employees. Face-to-face interaction allows for open discussion of real-life experiences and encourages candid discussion among peers which has proven invaluable for creating environments free from sexual misconduct. Interactive components also allow participants to apply learned knowledge directly into relevant scenarios while providing supervisors with the opportunity to assess understanding and identify areas needing further review or education.
Keeping up to date
In addition, organizations should require periodic refresher courses so that employees remain aware of the standards required in the workplace at all times as new threats might emerge over time which requires immediate recognition and response by management. This way they can ensure compliance with laws related to sexual harassment while keeping their workforce well informed regarding current best practices around preventing such situations from happening in their place of business as well as strategies for addressing them if they arise despite our best efforts at prevention.
Finally, we advise organizations against using solely online solutions for sexual harassment training due to its limitations on conveying the critical importance behind these policies as well as its inability to facilitate meaningful interaction between staff members regarding potentially sensitive topics surrounding these issues or provide practice opportunities specifically tailored towards their environment’s unique characteristics. No matter what your organization’s stance on sexual harassment awareness may be, it is clear that going beyond simple video or written instruction is necessary in order to create truly effective prevention measures across any workplace setting.
