When you work in Human Resources (HR) or customer service, you frequently encounter difficult situations. You may be responsible for employee complaints and issues, as well as training.
Some of the most important trainings you might help coordinate are some of the hardest. These are the annual trainings that people dread because they feel so awkward. The truth is, these are the trainings you don’t want to create, but you must. They impact people when critical situations hit, and they protect people when it’s essential. Additionally, these training sessions may actually help you keep employees , which is critical in today’s difficult times of high employee turnover.
Sexual Harassment Training
Employers are required by law to teach their employees what the regulations are regarding sexual harassment. It’s important to offer training that not only discusses what it is and different scenarios that constitute sexual harassment, but that also tells people what to do in the event they are uncomfortable and have been harassed at work. It’s important to reassure staff that they will not be retaliated against, regardless of whom the accusation is against. It’s also essential that you create a training that holds management and VP level staff to the same standards and expectations that you hold your lower-level staff to.
Whistleblower Training
Do you know what denotes a whistleblower? Under the law, a whistleblower is someone that reports any form of misconduct in their organization. This can be anything from fraud, corruption, data security breaches, mismanagement, or even just poor customer service. The person that reports the wrongdoing doesn’t have to be the one that is directly affected by the issue.The whistleblower will usually report their concerns to an appropriate regulatory body or law enforcement agency. You need to be able to communicate to your staff that while they may need to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) for their work, there are certain protections afforded to someone who is a whistleblower.
Active Shooter Training
No one wants to believe that their co-workers could become dangerous or that someone from the streets could walk in and start shooting. Active shooter training is as important now as tornado drills were in elementary school. They give people the knowledge and tools they need in the event of a tragic shooting at the workplace. Some of the questions that may come up in this training include where to go, how to hide, locations that would protect people, and how to get out of the building as quickly as possible. You may need to field questions about concealed carry at work and if it’s allowed or not. You may need to answer questions about what happens if someone is shot. You may even want to train your employees on first aid to help each other in these emergencies.
Natural Disaster Training
Some areas are prone to hurricanes, others are prone to tornadoes, or even earthquakes. If you’re in an area that gets extreme weather, you’ll want to help communicate what to do in a natural disaster situation. Disaster training is difficult to give because it is hard for people to imagine what it is like and to think about how they would act. Try asking the group what they would do in a particular situation rather than just telling them what they should do. This will get your participants to take a look at their own attitudes and behaviors. Let people know if you have a shelter in place and where to go in an the event of an earthquake, including the fastest ways out of the building. You may find it difficult to do natural disaster training, but it can save lives if one of these ever hits your area.
Safety Training to Experienced Workers
Even the most experienced professionals need reminders of the best safety practices when it comes to their work. It’s easy to get stuck in some bad habits that might not seem like a big deal, but over time can cause major issues. Reiterate safety procedures to all your staff to ensure everyone has the same training. Don’t let someone’s experience make them too proud to repeat important safety training. Someone’s life might depend on them doing it the right way.
When it comes to HR or customer service, you might feel uncomfortable about creating these types of trainings at work. But ultimately, the work you do matters, and these important training topics can save lives. As a management professional, you have to create ways for people to feel comfortable so the message can be shared effectively. If you do not have any experience with the topic, it’s important to reach out early on for help and collaborate with an expert if necessary.
