Bystander intervention training is one of the most effective ways to empower employees to address and prevent harassment and discrimination in the workplace. With the right knowledge, tools and motivation, bystanders can intervene and stop inappropriate behavior before it rises to the level of unlawful harassment.
The Bystander Effect and Bystander Intervention Training
The Bystander Effect is a term that social psychologists use for the tendency of individuals to feel less responsible to help or take action when they are in a group. There are many reasons why people choose not to get involved when they witness a threatening or uncomfortable situation, especially when there are others present. Some people just don’t want to get involved, or they look to others to step in, or they fear becoming a target themselves if they do or say something.
In the workplace, being a passive onlooker to sexual harassment and other abusive conduct can perpetuate a toxic work environment that can negatively affect many people beyond the direct targets.
Bystander intervention training can counteract the Bystander Effect. By encouraging and preparing employees to take action when they witness harassing and discriminating behavior, bystander intervention training helps remove the uncertainty of not knowing when or how to intervene, especially in uncomfortable work situations. Employees gain a deeper understanding of how bystander intervention can protect targets of discrimination and harassment, discourage harassing behavior and help prevent future incidents.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said that with leadership support, bystander intervention training could be a game changer that can have a positive impact on workplace culture by creating a “sense of collective responsibility on the part of workers and empower them to be engaged bystanders in preventing harassment.”
Online Bystander Intervention Training Course for Law Firms
This 25-minute, stand-alone course created by Traliant raises awareness of the importance of being an active bystander, providing employees with practical steps for protecting targets of abusive behavior and preventing future misconduct. Savvy is proud to partner with Traliant, a company that is revolutionizing the compliance training experience with bite-sized videos presented in a modern, news-style format. Courses immerse learners in interactive episodes that let them choose alternative endings, while learning how to handle difficult, real-world situations.
Traliant’s Bystander Intervention Training:
- Defines the concept and benefits of bystander intervention
- Depicts the different types of discrimination and harassment that bystanders may witness
- Demonstrates how a bystander can support targets of discrimination and harassment and help prevent future incidents
- Explores effective approaches for bystander intervention, such as disrupting, supporting confronting and reporting
- Explains the importance of exercising good judgment in choosing how and when to respond
Savvy has been providing the law firm industry with Traliant’s award-winning compliance training videos for several years because they are simply the best out there. One law firm HR manager recently sent us this comment:
“Doug, I just completed the Preventing Discrimination and Harassment video – it’s honestly one of the best, if not THE best, I’ve encountered in my career.”
If you’d like a free demo of the Bystander Intervention Training, contact Savvy today or use our handy Calendly link to pick a day and time that work best for you!