Adding harassment training to DEI training programs can have a favorable impact on an organization’s culture. Integrating these two trainings creates a cohesive approach to fostering a respectful and inclusive workplace. Not to mention protecting the company’s image, reputation, credibility, and bottom line.

What is Compliance Harassment Training?

Compliance harassment training is one of the most critical types of training companies can offer. The courses educate employees on laws, regulations, and company policies. Proper training creates a workplace free from inappropriate behaviors and reduces the risk of legal issues. When quality training is in place, the organization’s best practices support a diverse workforce and leverage unique perspectives, paving the way to a successful company.

What is DEI Training?

DEI training focuses on promoting diversity, understanding, and inclusivity. One of the fundamental purposes of a successful DEI program is creating a healthy workplace where people want to work.

Benefits of Adding Harassment Training to Improve the Impact of DEI Training

Harassment training, complemented with DEI training, goes beyond controlling costs and maintaining compliance with the law. There are so many more benefits of adding harassment training, as it will intensify the impact of your DEI training. Here are several examples:

Raises awareness and sensitivity:

Harassment training can deepen awareness about both subtle and apparent inappropriate behavior. Demeaning behaviors range from receiving backhanded compliments to generalizing an employee’s actions. Training allows employees to recognize what constitutes harassment. They can then be more sensitive to their own behaviors and those of others.

Harassment training works hand in hand with DEI training by creating a fair and inclusive workplace where all employees have the same opportunities to learn and advance. Everyone has different backgrounds, experiences, and needs, and this uniqueness calls for respect.

Builds an inclusive culture:

Harassment training emphasizes respect at a deep level and forbids any form of insensitivity.

Harassment training empowers leadership to embrace DEI-focused values to create an all-inclusive, driven culture. In turn this creates a culture of politeness and respect. Employees learn to appreciate and embrace all individuals regardless of their diverse backgrounds and differences.

Reduces harassment issues:

Knowledge and awareness often lead to behavioral changes. Training allows employees to recognize harassment and makes them less likely to engage in these behaviors.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) advises that harassment is more likely to happen in the workplace with a lack of diversity. Research suggests that a lack of diversity and inclusion in the workplace can promote discriminatory behavior. This knowledge further solidifies how harassment and DEI training work together to create a diverse workforce.

Supports bystander intervention and empowers employees:

Harassment training includes how bystanders can safely and effectively intervene when they observe inappropriate behavior. This specific training can be critical in stopping or preventing harassment. Employees equipped with knowledge about harassment and its consequences are more likely to stand up against it, either for themselves or for their teammates.

Harassment training impacts DEI training by empowering employees to become anti-harassment advocates. By educating employees on allyship, active listening, and standing up against discrimination, both types of training nurture a network of change agents within the company.

Boosts employee morale and trust:

When employees see that the organization is proactive in preventing harassment and promoting DEI, it can boost their morale and trust in the company.

When employees feel psychologically safe and know they’ll not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, or concerns or for making mistakes or taking significant risks, it leads to higher engagement and productivity.

Increases innovation and job performance:

Employees in workplaces free from harassment feel comfortable sharing their unique perspectives without fear of retaliation.

Diverse and inclusive environments foster employees with unique experiences and perspectives to share creative and innovative ideas.

Retains employees:

Companies with minimal harassment complaints can lead to higher employee retention rates.

Coupling harassment training with DEI training promotes an environment where employees have the freedom to be authentic, feel safe and respected, and have better retention and lower turnover rates. These trainings support a positive employee experience, increasing employee job satisfaction.

Safeguards the company reputation:

Harassment reports and negative employee reviews on social media may severely damage a company’s reputation. Proper harassment prevention training can help mitigate risks.

Having effective training helps to ensure that the company is seen in a positive light by employees and the public. Talent acquisition, retention, and promotions should all factor into the DEI program.

HSI Can Help

Want to take a more comprehensive approach to creating a respectful and inclusive environment? Need assistance with effectively combining harassment compliance training with DEI training? Or are you concerned quality online courses are too expensive? Instead consider the costs of not equipping a workforce to support a safe and inclusive culture! HSI can explain the true cost of harassment prevention training.

HSI’s online training delivers a consistent, convenient, and impactful experience. It costs significantly less than multilocation in-person training and is easier to administer, especially with the shift to hybrid and remote work. HR and administrators can assign courses. And employees can self-direct their learning, focusing on bite-sized pieces of relevant content that address their genuine questions and concerns.

Here is a sampling of harassment and DEI training courses to pair with employees’ ongoing learning:

Harassment Courses:

• Title IX Reporting
• Understanding Offenders
• Supporting LGBTQ+ Coworkers
• Harassment Bystander Scenarios
• How to Intervene in Sexual Harassment
• Writing and Communicating Anti-Harassment Policy

DEI Courses:

• People First
• Anti-Racism: Allyship
• Diversity Training: Microaggressions
• Unconscious Bias: Types of Unconscious Bias
• Cross-Cultural Considerations: Cultural Intelligence
• Working Well with Everyone: The Power of Inclusion

For more information on the best way HSI can help, request a free trial of our LMS.

Resources

• HSI Sample DEI Training Videos
• SHRM: Is Corporate IE&D Dying? Maybe Not
• A Comprehensive Guide to Anti-Harassment Training
• HSI White Paper: Why Compliance Training is More Than a Checkbox
• Blue Ocean Brain, an HSI Company Webinar: Trends in DEI Building Cultures
• HSI White Paper: How to Choose the Best Anti-Harassment Training Program
• Blue Ocean Brain, an HSI Company eBook: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace
  
• HSI Blog: The Ins & Outs of an Effective Harassment Training Program: Consistency in Training by Using Online Training