For banks, insurance companies, brokerage firms, and other businesses engaged in financial activities, there are many complex requirements when it comes to compliance.

While all businesses need to be compliant with industry regulations, companies involved in financial services must be particularly aware of compliance concerns.

Neglecting compliance issues can put these companies at significant risk, in the way of penalties and fines, legal proceedings, loss of income, as well as damage to their brand and reputation.

Tony Clark, Managing Director at Synechron UK, believes compliance is “not just about recognising the key regulatory pressures facing financial institutions, but also proactively ensuring the company is improving its processes and streamlining its operations.”

Understanding potential compliance and regulatory challenges is your first step in successfully addressing them.

To help you do this, here are three of the biggest compliance concerns in the financial realm and what you can do to avoid them.

Data Breaches – Secure Your Company Data       

Top of the list for compliance concerns for financial services? Data breaches.

Earlier this year,­­­ we saw some very important changes around data breaches enacted into law on 22 February 2018. Since the passing of the Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Data Breaches) Bill 2016 in Parliament, companies no longer have the luxury of hiding their breaches.

These changes have been made to increase the level of security for individuals, protecting customer data that companies have access to. Organisations will now have to prove that they are taking this issue seriously. And businesses that fail to show they have the right compliance measures in place – or are at least making efforts to – will face serious fines, with civil penalties of up to $1.8 million.

To minimise this risk, make sure you’re educating staff about data security and compliance. Investing some time and money in compliance training is worth the investment, to make sure your business is safeguarding against the event of a data breach.

Companies must notify both the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and affected individuals of any eligible data breaches. This will give individuals the opportunity to re-secure or change their data, while also putting pressure on organisations to improve their data security practices in the first place.

Cyber Attacks – Protect Against Ransomware

Unfortunately, financial institutions are key targets for cyber attacks, due to the vast amount of sensitive (and valuable) data they possess.

Over the last twelve months, we’ve seen various countries across the world affected by major cyber attacks involving ransomware. Petya, a malicious computer virus, recently wreaked havoc on more than 200,000 organisations in over 150 countries, for example.

It’s imperative that financial service companies implement effective security programs and policies to keep these threats at bay.

Training staff around this issue and increasing your cyber security is your best line of defense. You can learn more about the precautions you can take to protect yourself and your business from malicious ransomware and the risk of cyber attack here.

Workplace Safety – Keeping Employees Safe

Compliance is also critical when it comes to the human side of things – your employees.

Employees are “one of the most important elements of every business and because they bring with them a host of legal obligations.”

Companies face considerable fines and business impacts if they fail to be compliant with current workplace safety laws and regulations. That’s why employers must provide appropriate workplace safety training for all staff and take responsibility for providing them with a safe workplace.

It’s also important to look at the policies you have in place around sexual harassment, bullying and all forms of discrimination. Employees have a legal right to live and work free from harassment and discrimination based on gender, age, race, religion or sexual orientation. Make sure you have strong policies in place around these subjects, and that you’re providing ongoing employee training to remind staff of these key messages.

Using eLearning to Reduce Compliance Risk

If you’re looking to update and improve the compliance processes within your organisation, moving your training online is a great place to start.

Through eLearning platforms, you can use “simulations, quizzes, stories, gamification, role-play, audio, video, and almost any other multimedia you can think of! That’s a whole load of ways to take students through the complicated maze of compliance.”

Using a Learning Management System such as Go1’s online training platform to create and deliver your compliance training gives you access to customisable reporting, engagement tools and analytics.

This allows you to easily track staff progress, see how each team member is going with the content and whether they may need additional direction, assistance or further resources. You can even use your own compliance content with the Go1 platform, creating a fully customised program for your employees.

For companies involved in financial services, investing some time and money into this area is the best way to significantly reduce your compliance risk. There are plenty of compliance training courses available online, if you’d like to learn more about this important issue.

Step up your compliance training with Go1

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What are the top compliance concerns for financial services?

In the event of a workplace emergency, would your staff know how to respond?

Natural disasters, fires, evacuations, workplace accidents – these things can and do happen, even in industries that are considered to be low risk.

It’s really important that employers ensure staff know how to respond in the event of an emergency or first aid incident. You can help your employees feel more prepared by providing regular workplace training in these areas.

By complying with national first aid code of practice, and ensuring you have qualified, trained first aiders on hand, you can significantly reduce the impact of incidents at your workplace.  You’ll also be helping individual employees to develop the skills – and confidence – they need to make the right decisions in the event of a workplace emergency.

First Aid Training – Your Responsibility as an Employer

If you run a company or organisation, it’s important that your business is compliant with current workplace safety laws and regulations, to promote a safer workplace and ensure the safety and wellbeing of your employees.

In Australia, employers are responsible for providing their staff with a safe workplace, free from hazards and health risks. Part of this responsibility means having proper first aid procedures, facilities and equipment in place.

Employers are legally responsible for providing first aid equipment in the workplace, in locations that all staff can easily access, and close to areas that present higher risk of accident or injury. If you’re a large worksite or organisation, spread out across a number of floors or buildings, this means providing multiple first aid kits. If employees travel for work, kits must also be present in all company vehicles.

Your business must also make sure there’s an adequate number of trained first aid providers that employees can go to for assistance. These first aid officers must hold a current first aid certificate and have the skills and knowledge to handle the situation until further medical assistance arrives, if necessary.

Emergency Training – Preparing Your Staff

Training must also be provided to employees to ensure they are familiar with your organisation’s emergency procedures, which can make a huge difference on the day if a crisis does emerge.

In the event of a fire, for example, the highest priority is always to get all occupants of the building out of harm’s way. Staff who have been trained in fire and evacuation procedures will know how to respond in an organised, methodical and efficient way, reducing risk to persons and property.

Training modules should be repeated on a regular basis to make sure individuals can refresh their knowledge and skills from time to time. While it’s important for all staff to attend first aid training, your designated first aiders will require more intensive additional training to be qualified to respond to incidents in the workplace.

Online Training for First Aid and Emergencies

So what’s the best way to deliver first aid and emergency training to staff across your organisation?

Through the use of workshops, online courses and eLearning training modules, you can make sure employees are properly engaged in workplace safety, while reducing the risk of accidents, injuries and hazards for your organisation.

If you’re an employer ready to invest in workplace training, Go1 can make this process a whole lot easier for you and your staff.

You can make your training process quick and easy by enrolling your teams in accredited first aid and emergency training courses through the Go1 platform.

By investing in high-quality training for your staff, you’ll be making the safety of your workplace a top priority and showing your commitment to the safety and wellbeing of your employees. You’ll also have peace of mind knowing that your business is compliant with Australian laws and regulations.

Are you providing emergency training for your staff?

Changing and advancing technology has affected multiple industries, especially construction. Instead of relying solely on skills, blueprints, and a few tools to turn raw material into masterpieces, workers have an entirely different resource available.

New technology streamlines processes, making many construction projects quicker, easier, and more accurate. Look at some of the more dramatic changes to technology and how each plays a role in the ever-changing landscape of the construction industry.

Building Information Modeling or BIM is perhaps one of the most notable of all technologies now used in construction. For virtual building models with extreme precision, this collaborative and drafting software is ideal.

BIM serves yet another purpose. Engineers can store information on the design, construction, and maintenance of different structures, including roads, buildings, tunnels, and bridges.

Overall, the BIM technology helps engineering specialists build complete projects digitally. Similar to a prototype part or component, the model gives builders and architects the opportunity to make changes before actually starting a project.

As you can see, there are multiple benefits to BIM.

For instance, instead of using traditional design sketches and blueprints, builders, contractors, architects, and other people involved with a construction project can use the 3D rendering to see virtually every detail, including walls, doors, windows, appliances, plumbing fixtures, and interior and exterior surfaces.

With everything combined, BIM gives people in the construction industry the opportunity to view a project before it’s physically completed. Using the rendering as a guide, this allows changes for changes to ensure a flawless outcome.

However, there’s one challenge to overcome before the construction industry can fully benefit from BIM. In 2017, the one struggle nearly all construction companies faced was not finding the required BIM training.

For surveying construction sites, especially those of significant size, drones prove extremely valuable. These unmanned aerial vehicles give builders, designers, and architects a bird’s eye view of projects without hiring a helicopter or airplane pilot.

The price of a pilot’s service exceeds using a drone. With an initial investment of $500 to $1,000 per drone, most construction companies can afford to add at least one aerial vehicle to its arsenal of tools. Even start-up and smaller operations have no problem taking advantage of drones.

Technology has even changed materials science. As an example, construction workers can now choose self-leveling and self-healing concrete over ordinary material that tends to crack, pit, and flake over time. There’s even permeable concrete, which allows water to drain through it as opposed to pooling.

Although not yet an option, one firm is trying to create engineering living materials. When this concept comes to fruition, it will allow for greener manufacturing processes and biologically sustainable buildings and other structures.

As stated by Justin Gallivan of the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), “Imagine that instead of shipping finished materials, we can ship precursors and rapidly grow them on site using local resources.”

Along with creating prosthetics, artwork, musical instruments, and more, 3D printing has become a valuable tool for the construction industry. Some companies claim they can print an entire house in just 24-hours at a cost far below conventional construction.

As 3D printing becomes even more viable, it could have a direct impact on laborers. In their place, companies that adopt this revolutionary technology need skilled designers and software operators.

Without using standard construction materials, 3D printing could cause a significant ripple for companies supplying lumber, brick, rock, gravel, and other building materials.

Accelerated speed, reduced cost, and precision design make 3D printing in the construction industry increasingly attractive, not only to builders but also consumers. Innovators around the globe are trying to change the method of designing and building homes and businesses.

AR, the acronym for Augmented Reality, is beginning to play a more significant role in the construction industry. This technology places images over what is actually in front of the viewer.

Wearing what looks like safety goggles, construction workers in the field can view “blueprints” while on the job, making it easier for them to create perfect structures.

When it comes to labor-intensive jobs, nothing surpasses the construction industry. Working with heavy materials, tools, and equipment, people in this industry rely a lot on muscle. With the robotics technology, laborers would receive assistance in handling certain objects and performing various tasks.

Experts agree it will be quite a while before humans and robots actually work as a team. However, when that time comes, robots can take over some of the more laborious work.

There’s a significant volume of paper associated with the construction industry for things like drawings, invoices, meeting notes, contracts, and more. Thanks to technology in the form of digital collaboration tools, the amount of paperwork is decreasing.

Not only do these tools eliminate unnecessary paper, but they also create an easy-to-follow communication and action trail. Using these tools, any authorized individual can view documents and determine who else has seen or changed them.

There’s also a safety factor to consider. In case of a fire, the digitally stored information has full protection.

As technology continues to disrupt the construction industry, it becomes critical for people to have proper training. At Go1, we offer thousands of articles, podcasts, and videos on multiple topics relating to the construction industry.

You and your team can learn about digital document storage, 3D printing, and much more. Prepare your employees for the technological changes already affecting this industry and those on the horizon.

How can technology disrupt the construction industry?

Bringing world class online training content to HR with an integrated learning solution.

PeopleStreme and Go1.com are pleased to announce our new partnership aimed at combining the companies’ respective expertise in Human Capital Management and Online Training Content.

This partnership will see PeopleStreme and Ascender capitalize on Go1.com’s educational expertise and one-stop shop for all things training, while Go1.com will look to support its clients HCM and Payroll requirements through PeopleStreme’s HCM suite and Ascender’s Payroll. This will allow Go1.com users to achieve an “all-in-one” HCM, Payroll and training solution.

“We are pleased to expand our relationship with Go1. Our customers are looking for diverse content to drive fast, impactful and efficient learning. This requires a deep learning catalog and a system to accommodate all the multiple ways of learning. Go1 is the world’s largest aggregator of online training content bringing all of the world’s top training providers under the same roof making them the right partner for us” — Lyle Potgieter, CEO of PeopleStreme.

“We look forward to working closely with PeopleStreme to help Australian businesses overcome the oft-complex challenges relating to the management, upskilling, engagement, health and safety of employees - all in one tightly integrated solution.” — Andrew Barnes, CEO of Go1.com.

At a time where there is significant disruption taking place throughout workforces across the globe, businesses are having to deal with complexities in upskilling their workforce. This partnership is an acknowledgment of organizations increasingly looking for a holistic solution to their Learning Platform (LDS) and training content requirements to help boost employees’ productivity and business profitability.

PeopleStreme was recently acquired by Ascender, one of Asia Pacific’s leaders in human resources and payroll outsourcing. Together, the two companies specialize in the development of technology to support payroll and human resources initiatives and have over 1.5 million employees being paid using Ascender’s Payroll or using PeopleStreme’s HCM platforms. Their fully integrated technology include multiple payroll technologies, performance management, learning and development, eRecruitment, and onboarding. With over 1,500 global brands and listed companies across a range of different industries, Ascender and PeopleStreme have the ability to advise, consult, train and implement all components of an organization’s human resources project requirements. Their mission is to unlock the full potential of an organization’s workforce by providing intuitive cloud-based HCM and payroll software and deployment services.

Go1 makes it easy for businesses to train their staff, with the world’s largest compliance, professional development and general training marketplace. By providing a single platform that extends from first aid training through to degree-bearing courses, Go1 makes it easy to find and compare the best training options available. The marketplace features more than 500,000 courses and other learning items created by local and international experts. Customers include SEEK, Oxford University, state and local governments and St John Ambulance.

Since launching in 2015, Go1.com has grown to be a world leader in online learning and education. The company’s investors include Y Combinator, Shark Tank’s Steve Baxter, SEEK and Oxford University, enabling the startup to continue expanding its offices across the world.

PeopleStreme and Go1 announce Strategic Partnership

Designing eLearning content and online training courses for your staff or students?

You’ll need to make sure the content you’re creating is SCORM compliant.

eLearning professionals often work in authoring tools such as Captivate or Articulate to design their online courses. They then have the option of exporting the content to a SCORM package.

You might have already carried out this task yourself many times – but have you ever wondered why it’s so important to make your training content SCORM compliant? Many people working in the L&D industry are aware of the term, but not so familiar with the technology itself.

Taking the time to learn a little more about the SCORM model can help content creators gain more of an understanding and appreciation of its impact on the eLearning industry.

Simply put, SCORM helps your Learning Management System and content to work together. Having your content packaged into SCORM files will ensure your learning materials can be read and run on different learning platforms, reaching a wide audience of learners.

If you’re keen to learn more about how SCORM works and why you need to make your learning content SCORM compliant, you’ve come to the right place.

Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about SCORM and why it’s so important for online learning.

First things first – what is this SCORM acronym all about? Well, SCORM stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model.

Sharable Content Object (SCO) refers to the units of online learning material the LMS delivers to learners.

In essence, these SCOs can be thought of as building blocks. An online course will be made up of different building blocks: an HTML page, image, audio file, or flash-based quiz, for example. Your LMS will then link all those smaller building blocks into a logical set of SCOs for specific instructions.

The Reference Model indicates that SCORM is a kind of standard or model, to help govern eLearning content and achieve consistency and compliance across the industry.

You might be wondering how long SCORM has been used in the eLearning industry.

SCORM was first released in early 2000 and is considered to be “the most commonly used content standard in eLearning” standardising learning content between the industry’s many different developers and vendors.

Before the release of SCORM in 2000, creating course content that could run on multiple devices and systems was far more difficult – and costly! After all, there was no guarantee that the learning content you’d created would be able to be integrated and used on other Learning Management Systems or platforms.

With SCORM, trainers and content creators are able to successfully collaborate and use eLearning course content across multiple tools and systems.

How has SCORM helped the eLearning industry?

Since the arrival of SCORM, creating online learning courses is so much easier, with the SCORM model simplifying how eLearning content works with different platforms and tools.

When departments work autonomously, developing their own eLearning courses and delivering them via the LMS of their choice, it can lead to problems with content duplication and information all over the place. With SCORM, we have a set of technical standards to improve interoperability between eLearning products.

Let’s say you design eLearning content through a tool like Captivate – with SCORM, you can upload that content into a Learning Management System of your choice.

This powerful plug-and-play functionality means that eLearning content can be simply created once, and then used in many different systems and situations without modification.

So you now know why it’s so important to make your learning content SCORM compliant. Next step is to understand just how SCORM files work.

You’ve no doubt seen many eLearning courses and training tools advertising themselves as ‘SCORM compliant’. Basically, this means that the files have been packaged up in line with SCORM standards, ready to be uploaded into a SCORM compliant system. SCORM files look just like a zip file and will contain all of the files needed to make the eLearning content run.

This means they’ve been developed to fit SCORM’s technical specifications and should work with all compliant technologies and content.

If you get a little lost when it comes to the technical side of things, think of a DVD. Imagine if our favourite movie could only be played in certain DVD players. SCORM is the magic that makes your online course able to be played on any LMS.

 What are the benefits of being SCORM compliant?

The benefits of making your online training materials SCORM compliant extend to your learners, eLearning providers, the business, and yourself as content creator.

For content creators, you won’t be wasting your time, energy and money designing and developing training courses that can’t be used. After all, if an LMS can’t read your learning content, your online course is already doomed. As you can see, it’s vital that your eLearning materials are SCORM compliant.

SCORM also allows you to be more flexible when it comes to the eLearning platform you choose to use – you can even switch platforms later down the track. Learning content can then be easily customised without the need for costly and time-consuming re-coding.

In terms of your business, creating SCORM compliant material will help you to reach more learners, as it’s more widely accepted. You’ll also have peace of mind that technology platforms will be able to read and run your course materials, well into the future.

SCORM: What is SCORM and why does it matter?

For anyone working in the construction industry, not only is training important but also mandated in some situations. For this particular arena, workers must follow compliance laws established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This government agency’s sole purpose is to set and enforce standards that keep people safe and healthy on the job. Although the regulations apply to multiple industries, they’re critical for construction.

Along with required training are voluntary programs. The challenge a lot of people have is knowing what training they need. After all, there are numerous programs and sub-programs. The good news is you can complete a host of courses online through a reputable Learning Management System or LMS. Virtually everything you need training on this system provides.

Because the duration of most courses is short and the cost is nominal, you can take as much training as you want. Along with staying compliant with OSHA regulations, online training gives you the opportunity to expand your knowledge base and hone existing skills.

Regardless of your position or the type of construction company you work for, the more you learn, the better you perform, and the safer and healthier the work environment becomes.

As someone involved in the construction industry, you need to determine the appropriate courses. For instance, do you need general industry training or training that focuses specifically on construction? For the answer to this question, learn the differences between the two.

As part of the OSHA Outreach Training Program, this voluntary program promotes both safety and health in the workplace. By completing it, you gain tremendous knowledge about things relating to the construction industry, including hazards.

Keep in mind this particular program doesn’t fulfill the OSHA standards, meaning your employer needs to ensure you have additional training. Initiated almost 50 years ago, the popularity of this program has skyrocketed in recent years.

As reported by the OSHA, people who work in the thriving construction industry want opportunities to learn. For the Outreach Training program alone, OSHA estimated that nearly 4 million people completed training during the four-year period ending in 2016.

The formula for General Industry training specifically focuses on workers. You would learn how to recognize, avoid, abate, and prevent hazards in the workplace. Also, this program covers basic information as to your rights, the responsibilities of your employer, and if necessary, the proper steps to take in filing a claim.

General Industry training provides several key benefits, including:

Promotes a safe and healthy work environment

Authorized trainers provide General Industry training as part of the OSHA Outreach Training program. While not certified, these individuals have extensive knowledge of and expertise in construction and the best way to deliver the program, so people understand how to apply it.

This training is also a part of the OSHA Outreach Training program that is designed for the construction industry. As with General Industry training, you would learn how to identify, avoid, abate, and prevent both health and safety hazards in the workplace. You would also become educated about your rights, the responsibilities of your employer, and the proper way to file a complaint.

For this program, you must finish a minimum of 10.25 hours of training along with supplemental material. Whether you work as a construction worker, site inspector, foreman, or job supervisor, you should take this program.

Construction training also focuses on OSHA industry standards on a federal level, although the program does not meet OSHA standards. Some of the other things you would learn to identify from this program include:

Ways to protect yourself from material handling hazards

Role your management plays in improving the current work environment

Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment

Both General Industry and Construction training are part of the OSHA Outreach Training Program with an emphasis on creating a safer and healthier work environment. Especially in construction, workers face potential risks daily. Therefore, it is essential you complete the proper training to reduce or eliminate potential hazards.

For the OSHA Outreach Training program, there are two options, a 10- and 30-hour course. If your employer determines you need health and safety training, he or she will go with either the 10- or 30-hour option depending on various factors. While both cover many of the same topics, the primary difference is with the 30-hour option; you receive 20 more hours of training. Remember, it’s your employer’s responsibility to understand the differences and select the right one.

A lot of people in the construction industry prefer to go for the 30-hour OSHA training course. The reason is the instructor has more time to spend on individual subjects. However, things like your job responsibilities, as well as the type of construction company where you work will determine if this is the right course.

After all, the term “construction” covers different types of companies, including:

For each of these, there are “sub-categories” like:

Hazardous Materials (Mandatory for the 30-hour training program)

Along with the 10- and 30-hour courses, you can take advantage of additional training through a reputable Learning Management System. By choosing the right platform, you can select from hundreds of different topics, developed by industry experts and presented in different forms such as videos, podcasts, and articles.

Especially for someone in the construction industry, regardless of the size of the employer, the specific field, or the job performed, completing health and safety training is highly beneficial. With so many unknowns, it’s better to prepare yourself than to face an accident that causes injury or worse.

After finishing either course, you would take an exam with a passing grade set at 70 percent. If you pass, you’ll receive the respective OSHA Outreach Training program card.

From a construction perspective, the structure between General Industry and Construction training remains much the same although the topics differ. Another key difference is with the 30-hour program, some topics are mandatory. One of the most significant benefits of taking either course is the authorized trainer has the discretion to customize it.

The goal with both the General Industry and Construction program, whether you complete the 10- or 30-hour course, is to become more knowledgeable and educated about critical factors related to the field of construction. Sure, having a card showing you completed training is nice but more importantly, you’ll contribute to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.

When you consider every year, thousands of workers die on the job and even more sustain severe injuries, it’s essential you have the appropriate training. If your employer doesn’t offer you an opportunity to take the OSHA Outreach Training program, ask. Not only will this benefit you, but also the company. The fewer the injuries and illnesses the less liability for your employer.

By keeping people safe and healthy on the job, production increases, which generates more revenue. Finished products also ensure customer satisfaction, which gives your employer’s reputation a boost, something important in a fiercely competitive industry.

Although the OSHA Outreach Training program doesn’t meet OSHA standards, it’s highly complementary. The same goes for the additional online courses you take from a respected and trusted Learning Management System platform. While they may not meet the strict standards set and enforced by OSHA, they help you increase your knowledge base.

Following are just a few examples of the online courses currently available. However, to keep up with worker demand and an ever-changing industry, the system adds new courses all the time. Remember, you can complete both the 10- and 30-hour course using the right Learning Management System platform.

OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment

OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy and Lock Out / Tag Out

OSHA Outreach Training – General Industry 30-Hour Course

As shown by the examples provided, you can complete the full 10- or 30-hour training program or take segments of each. Regardless of the direction you go, you’ll find all courses have affordable prices. Also, because there’s no deadline on completing any of the courses, you won’t feel any stress to rush, which allows you to absorb the information better. If preferred, you can take online training courses from the comfort and privacy of your home.

Go1 is a highly regarded Learning Management System that offers an abundance of OSHA and non-OSHA courses specific to the construction industry. Our goal is to provide people what they need to enjoy a safe and healthy work environment. Industry experts develop and sometimes present all our courses. For that reason, you learn from the best.

General industry or construction? OSHA 10 or OSHA 30? What training do I need?

Unfortunately, current statistics about sexual harassment in the workplace tell a horrifying story. Although public education and awareness help to some degree, this is a continuing problem that’s going to require a lot of involvement to reduce or hopefully, stop it. Not only do business owners play a significant role in protecting employees, but also their leadership team consisting of CEOs, CFOs, HR directors, compliance managers, L&D managers, and anyone else in a position of authority.

Sharing nude or pornographic photos or videos

Making comments or jokes pertaining to sex

Requesting sexual favors in exchange for some type of reward

Sharing or displaying statues, cartoons, icons, and dolls of a sexual nature

Writing memos, letters, text messages, or emails that include sexual innuendos

Making derogatory or insulting comments about or toward another employee of sexual nature

Making offensive remarks about a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation

Invading a person’s space in a sexual manner

Making sexual comments about a person’s clothing, appearance, or body parts

The following shows the difference between a hostile work environment sexual harassment and quid pro quo sexual harassment.

Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment – Anyone can commit this type of harassment, regardless of title or job responsibility. In fact, it can involve people outside of your organization, including clients, suppliers, vendors, couriers, members of the cleaning crew, repair people, etc. For this, there’s no offer of employee benefits in exchange for a sexual favor.

Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment – In this case, usually someone of authority makes unwanted, unwelcomed, or repeated advances in exchange for offering some type of employee benefit. Some examples include job promotion, bonus or raise, work-related opportunities, travel options, larger or better office, avoiding termination, and so on.

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, sexual harassment entails virtually any kind of unwanted or unwelcome advances of a sexual nature. It also defines sexual harassment as any comment that would prevent an employee from doing his or her job due to feelings of being threatened or intimated.

Although both genders end up on the receiving end of sexual harassment, this problem affects more women than men, especially those between the ages of 25 and 35. Not only are men and women the recipients of sexual harassment but also the perpetrators. Also, harassment occurs between two people of the same and opposite gender.

For a better understanding of what sexual harassment looks like in the workplace, consider the three examples below.

A male worker pulls out nude, partially nude, or pornographic photos to show to other employees while standing within feet from a female worker’s desk. The woman can see the images and hear the conversation about them. As someone disinterested, that act, whether intentional or not, is sexual harassment.

A male or female employee tells a dirty joke within earshot of another worker who finds it offensive. Again, that situation depicts sexual harassment.

An employee who is a natural toucher or hugger walks up to a worker and puts his or her arms around the individual. While that’s fine with family or close friends, an employee who goes to different people in the workplace touching them, making them feel uncomfortable is sexual harassment. Although the harasser meant no ill will, he still did something wrong.

As you review the current statistics on workplace sexual harassment, you’ll quickly realize if you don’t already have an action plan in place, you need to implement one immediately. For this, it’s critical you and your entire leadership team sit down to learn what constitutes sexual harassment.

Also, this is the perfect opportunity to organize training, so the company executives, managers, and staff learn how to spot a problem, who to report it to, how to prevent it, the way to react, and more. Thanks to one of the best Learning Management Systems, you can find hundreds upon hundreds of topics all relating to this topic.

In the workplace, a staggering 81 percent of women and 43 percent of men have experienced some kind of sexual harassment

There’s a 60 percent chance of experiencing sexual harassment at work

When asked, 25 percent of the workforce admitted to experiencing sexual harassment

Of women harassed, 30 percent said the harasser was a male co-worker while 25 percent was a male in a position of authority

Of targeted people, only 38 percent took any action

You and your entire leadership team carry most of the burden in identifying and preventing workplace sexual harassment. It’s vital you do everything humanly possible to protect the people who work for your organization. Start by developing a strict sexual harassment policy. Brainstorm with your executives and managers to include moral and legal requirements. As part of your new policy, make sure to cover prevention, reporting, investigation, and disciplinary action.

Include in your company’s sexual harassment policy what happens if someone fails to report an incident or a person in authority doesn’t handle it correctly. Because you’re liable, either scenario puts your company at risk for consequences. Especially if the same individual harasses another employee following the first case, things could turn ugly fast.

With the company policy in place, offer your entire organization training. Whether you have your staff complete online courses in a group setting or on an individual basis, everyone has the same information. Knowledge is what gives people the power needed to act appropriately when facing a situation of sexual harassment.

You should then have your leaders pass out some kind of booklet or pamphlet to their teams as a reference tool. Along with that, include policy material in the orientation package for any new hires. Even post the information in specific areas of the company, including the lunch room and in every manager’s office. Sexual harassment is a major deal, and you need to treat it as such.

In addition to the policy, you need to confront the person accused of committing sexual harassment. Because every situation is different, and on rare occasions, the victim isn’t telling the truth, talk to the person behind closed doors with his or her manager present.

Decreased self-confidence and self-esteem

Anger, frustration, fear, and irritability

Without handling the situation and providing workers with resources for overcoming these issues, they begin to lose interest in the company and their jobs. Some may begin to show up late to work, struggle as a team member, and experience a significant decline in work performance, forcing the manager to demote or terminate.

When going through online training for sexual harassment, you’ll learn all sorts of things, including the correct information to document. For example, you or a manager needs to write down what happened and include as many details as possible. If preferred, you can have the harassed individual prepare a written statement. Include the harasser’s and any witness’s names, as well as the date, time, and place of the incident.

With the documentation, it’s essential to gather information as to how the harassed employee felt afterward and ways the situation affected his or her job. These details will help you understand any fallout of what happened, best deal with the harasser, and protect the innocent party.

For instance, if the harassed individual moves to another department or takes a job with a different company, you want a paper trail as to why the employee suddenly started struggling at work. If the severity of the sexual harassment arises to the level that requires the involvement of law enforcement, a full written report will paint a complete picture of what occurred.

Even if you terminate the sexual harasser, the other party may need some time to deal with what happened. Make sure you offer support or professional counseling as needed. You want your employee to fully recover and continue being a valued member of your organization. Because sexual harassment is a problem most companies deal with at some point, there are tremendous resources available.

For the training portion, Go1 has an incredible library of podcasts, videos, and articles specific to sexual harassment in the workplace. You, your executives, managers, and staff can access the site and complete as much training as wanted for a nominal price. Contact us to speak with a representative, so we can help you select the right courses for your business.

Sexual harassment training: how to stay protected

The Go1 team is proud to announce that our amazing customers and partners have won six awards at the 2018 LearnX Impact Awards! The prestigious awards highlight the impact of Go1’s eLearning solutions for our customers and partners and proves eLearning can deliver fantastic results for businesses.

LearnX Live Summit & Awards Show was held on Tuesday 30th October at the Melbourne Convention Centre. The awards are an annual event run by the LearnX Foundation; a not-for-profit organisation which recognises the exceptional impact of innovative workforce learning, technology and performance. The event attracts the leading learning and training industry organisations in Australia.