As we progress into the twenty-first century, it is an undeniable fact that diversity is increasing in the work force. This is a great thing that we should celebrate. After all, it provides a variety of perspectives in our organization and increased problem-solving on top of giving opportunities to marginalized groups.
Unfortunately, with this comes an even greater need for things like compliance training. This should cover a variety of topics, which I will be discussing today. Make sure that when you schedule it or select an external module for teaching, it includes these things to help mitigate risk for your organization.
1. A Definition of Compliance
It would be difficult to give an entire presentation on the topic without defining it. You can do this in simple terms, of course. It is just the act of following the rules and regulations of both the company and the federal and state government. Local laws also come into play.
You can learn more about all of this on this website if you are curious on how to explain it: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/compliance-training. There are a few facets to this but make sure not to over complicate it in the actual presentation. While there are two types of it, employees don’t need to know all the details.
2. Covering Safety
While an office environment might not seem particularly dangerous, there are still things that you can train. Obviously, you probably aren’t going to need a vest and hard hat. Something to consider is the overall climate of the building.
Temperature control is important and should probably be handled by you or management. Reminding workers to bring a cardigan or sweater if it is too cold is one part of this. It might not seem like a big deal, but it’s still worth mentioning.
Some other things are the ergonomics of chairs and desk setups and getting up and moving. Taking small stretch breaks can help prevent the risks of sedentary lifestyles. You should also cover anything for emergency protocols.
3. Cybersecurity
It might not be the first thing we think of for training compliance, but it remains a key part of it. Protecting yourself and your workers from external attacks is critical. Even something as simple as someone clicking on a suspicious email link can result in disaster.
No matter what kind of data you have on your computer systems, keeping it secure should be a part of your corporate policies. This is why it has a place in compliance. Teaching everyone not to fall for obvious scams is part of this. Having antivirus programs and running regular scans should be another facet.
4. Money Laundering and Corruption
We might think this is something that only happened in the past, but unfortunately it can still happen. While it is more difficult today given the advances in technology, establishing the regulations and policies regarding it can help prevent it. You can help employees to recognize what it might look like so they can report it, as well.
The session should explain what is appropriate with company money and what is not. There should be little to no room for loopholes or gray areas, so consider it carefully as you proceed. You can also provide some transparent information about how the business handles its money to give the audience a better sense of security and trust.
5. Harassment
Out of all the things you should cover, this is perhaps the most important one. There are many different forms of harassment, which you can read more about here. You should describe all of them so that no one can claim ignorance in these cases.
One is physical. Any inappropriate or unwanted touching or contact can fall in this category. Sexual is under this umbrella but is not the only thing, as any physicality that is not desired can be a problem.
Verbal and emotional is another. While we were in school, we would call this bullying. However, in the workplace, it becomes even more serious. Discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity are some examples. However, any rude comments that are repeated and not seen as a joke by the receiving party can be a red flag.
Some parts you may want to discuss in this section of a training session is that this does not only impact women (though it disproportionately does). Anyone can be a victim. Those on your management team should be a safe resource to access and report to.
Having a hostile work environment isn’t good for anyone. That is why we need to take great lengths to create a positive one. Compliance training is one of the first steps you should take. Consider your options and select the best module for your needs. It could even be an online one!
