Training for HR is mandatory in every company and it is important to educate the
managers and supervisors on certain policy and procedures as well as legal matters.
Supposedly we take employee harassment of any sort as an example, usually people might hesitate or find it awkward to be a part of harassment related training session for a couple of hours, but then it depends on the trainer to do his/her homework well and come prepared with some real-life experiences to share. The point, which is to be kept in focus, is that for such unconventional topics the message has to be conveyed in a way different from usual training sessions.
The following tips if followed can make the trainings on complex though important topics much more effective:
Trainings made alive through multimedia: Instead of reading out the policies from a book, make them interesting through a blend of visual and multimedia aid. It is important to put the message across especially in trainings related to harassment, FMLA, ADA laws etc.
Real life examples of appropriate action: Real life examples leave a long lasting impact on the attendees; therefore to make the training effective such examples should be narrated more often. Showing the severe consequences of unacceptable behavior is critical to set an example amongst the employees. Moreover the trainer/front line manager should be able to portray that right steps were taken as an employer in the real life example they are stating.
Engage experienced trainers: Bring in people in-house or external with loads of experience to share experiences from their past work life. Its better to train on topics that are crucial before waiting for them to become mandatory.
Apart from that the organization can focus on arranging follow-up classes and provide handbooks with detailed policies and procedures for all attending the training. Such efforts taken by the employers depict the seriousness that they are putting in to make the employees aware of the necessary laws and regulations which influences the employees to give a respectable response.