Workplace harassment training is required in certain states, such as California, New York, and others. Even though the training is not required federally, doing these trainings in states that do not require them can help protect your business and shield you from liability issues. Knowing the right type of training and making it a positive experience for your employees can be difficult to do. Let’s explore.

What is Workplace Harassment Training?

Workplace harassment training is a corporate educational program designed to teach

employees about various forms of harassment and what is/is not acceptable behavior in the workplace. Harassment training covers a broad spectrum of topics, including but not limited to:

• Sexual harassment
• Racial harassment
• Disability harassment
• Age-related harassment

Importance of Harassment Training

Harassment training is important because it has tangible effects on your company culture and even your bottom line.

Prevents Fines and Reputational Damage:

Now more than ever, your company culture matters when it comes to the workplace. Training helps prevent fines and other penalties for hostilities in the workplace and the reputational damage you could take in the public eye should something come out. A reputation hit in a small community can kill a business if verified to be true. Help prevent that from ever happening by instituting training.

Prevents Legal Troubles:

Legal suits can be expensive, ranging in the hundreds of thousands of dollars just to settle a suit. Workplace harassment training can be one of the tools in your toolbox to help prevent lawsuits as well as use as evidence in case of a lawsuit.

Sets Realistic Workplace Expectations:

This training allows employers to set realistic expectations for what is/is not allowed behavior in the workspace. Employees and managers can be on the lookout for inappropriate behavior and provide an environment in which everyone can thrive.

Should You Outsource Harassment Training?

Companies can either have internal staff or outsource the training to an HRO (human resources outsourcing) provider. HRO providers often have the technology, information, and personnel that regular companies don’t have when it comes to workplace harassment training. Some of the advantages of outsourcing include but are not limited to:

Outsourcing Professionals Are More Familiar with Laws and Regulations

You’ll gain access to instructors and HR professionals who have in-depth knowledge about local, state, and federal regulations that you will need to abide by. This expertise may be better for specific industries and can help employees, managers, and even HR staff better understand rules, regulations,

You Want to Develop a Training Program

Most companies will want to have ongoing training on harassment year after year. Developing a comprehensive training program requires significant time, effort, and knowledge. HRO companies have training providers that specialize in creating training programs for clients that they can update over time and this is one of the many benefits of a provider.

Employees May Feel More Comfortable Asking Questions

When it comes to hosting a harassment training session, employees may feel scared to share with in-house staff. External trainers can offer an unbiased perspective, which can help foster an environment where employees feel safe and willing to ask questions/speak up. This can lead to more realistic expectations for your workforce and make it more effective.

Benefits of Outsourcing Workplace Harassment Training

Outsourcing harassment training has many different benefits for companies of all sizes. Here are just a few of the most important benefits of outsourcing:

Prevent Harassment

The #1 reason to do harassment training is to prevent actual harassment from happening at the workplace. A comprehensive program designed on multiple types of harassment and how to avoid even accidental situations can best service your employees. Moreover, this creates a better work environment where staff feel safe.

Cost-Effectiveness

While there is the initial cost of outsourcing, effective training can pay dividends if it helps prevent a lawsuit or disgruntled worker. Outsourcing also allows companies to gain access to high-quality technology or training programs without having to invest in the hardware themselves. You don’t have to worry about hiring specialized staff, developing materials, and keeping up with legal changes for your training. The outsourcing company does that for you.

Scalability

Designing a training program is one thing. Scaling it is another. Outsourcing allows organizations to scale their training programs across departments and through different modes of software. This means you can have employees that take it in-person or over the computer depending on their location. Your company can now have the flexibility it needs when dealing with a diverse workforce.

Meet Compliance at the State Level

It can be challenging for companies to keep up with all the state-by-state workplace harassment laws. Training providers stay up to date with legal developments and ensure that their programs comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Moreover, they can provide documentation that your workers have been trained on harassment.

Save Your Company Time

A training program developed in-house requires significant resources, including money, time, and expertise. Not all companies have the luxury of doing this, nor do they want to. Outsourcing can help your company save the time and hassle of developing a harassment program. Use trusted experts in their field to better inform employees.

Improve Company Culture

Employees who don’t have to worry about workplace harassment are going to be more productive. Employees who feel safe and respected are more likely to be engaged, productive, and loyal. Not to mention, this can help solidify your branding as a company that cares about its employees and wants them to excel at work.

Reduce Turnover

Training can help reduce turnover by making sure your employees know that they work in a safe environment. A company that commits to preventing harassment and supporting victims is more likely to retain its employees than one that does not. 

Continuous Improvement and Updates

HRO providers are almost always updating their means and methods for delivering services. Even more importantly they are focused on providing the best information to your employees and designing the best tools to train employees. This is not a one-time process, but an ongoing one that makes the most sense.

Looking for Human Resource Outsourcing that Can Conduct Workplace Harassment Training?

360Connect can help! We pair robust companies with interested clients every day. Just fill out our 1–2-minute form and we’ll contact you to verify your needs and information. From there, you’ll have up to 5 suppliers reach out to you with quotes about services. This process is free and easy to use.

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