Online Sexual Harassment Training:
Education is Key to Avoiding Incidents

The Importance of Sexual Harassment Training
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a very real issue. It spans across all industries of work, affects all ages, and can be committed by men and women upon the same or opposite sex. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states, “harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.”

Any behavior that is derogatory in nature, or creates discomfort among any member of the department or staff may also be defined as harassment or sexual harassment. This includes, but is not limited to, the circulation of lewd emails, inappropriate jokes, unwanted touching, and tasteless comments. The victim does not have to be the person who is harassed, but may be anyone who witnesses and is offended by the behavior. The negative consequences include personal discomfort and trauma, as well as poor productivity and low efficiency for the department.

There are state and federal rules and policies regarding harassment, sexual or otherwise. It is illegal in many organizations and situations, including the workplace. There are also rules regarding sexual harassment training, such as a law in California, AB 1825, which requires supervisors of organizations with more than 50 employees to receive two hours of sexual harassment training every two years.

How it Affects Productivity: Department Liability
There are many reasons for trying to prevent all forms of harassment in the workplace. Good firefighter morale is critical for retention, productivity and efficiency. The hostile work environment that is created when harassment takes place can lead to absenteeism, disregard for department procedures and policies, an increased turnover in firefighters, and overall reflects poor business practices.

Departments must approach the issue of sexual harassment very carefully. By taking responsibility for the well-being of firefighters and staff and instituting policies and procedures, as well as encouraging education about the matter, departments and stations can help to prevent harassment.

Training: An Effective Prevention Policy
Departments should do everything in their power to prevent harassment in the workplace, and the first step is training. A comprehensive training program should include in-depth instruction including exercises and training videos. There should also be written policies distributed to all staff members and regulated flyers that increase awareness and describe the firefighters’ and other staff members’ rights in the case of an incident. Stations should have established procedures for reporting and resolving complaints.

Online Training
If the prospect of providing and documenting sexual harassment training for all of your firefighters and other staff is overwhelming, consider online training courses. There are quite a few reasons why online training courses can be right for your department.

Schedule
In setting up training, scheduling can become an issue. With online training options, that problem can be quickly alleviated. You do not have to worry about taking all of your firefighters out of the station or field at one time. Instead, you can simply have them do their training online at their convenience. Whether you set aside time during the day to complete it at the station, or assign certain portions to be completed, you are able to create a schedule that works for you and all of your staff. It is convenient, efficient, and avoids the hassle associated with traditional training methods.

Price
Depending on the size of your station or department, the price for instructor-led training can be quite expensive. Using online courses is a more cost effective method of training. Conventional seminars and courses may charge double what an online program costs, and they often use the same videos and activities that the online courses offer.

Efficiency
Using an online training course is overall more efficient than traditional instructor-led courses. You have the convenience of your own schedule, lower costs, and any place with Internet access becomes the classroom. Sexual harassment training is extremely important, and online training programs are the most efficient and affordable training method available.

Results: Ultimate Goals
The ultimate goal in sexual harassment training is the prevention of future incidents. Protecting the well-being of all firefighters and staff members is a partial responsibility of the department. No one should ever be made to feel uncomfortable in the workplace. Additionally, the reputation of the department can be harmed by ignoring serious issues. It can also lead to poor productivity and disrespect among firefighters and among supervisors and other staff members.

In some situations, what one considers harassment may seem completely innocent to another. For this reason, all firefighters and staff members should be trained properly to avoid any confusion. Lighthearted jokes may be inappropriate, and misunderstandings between two people in the station can lead to feelings of victimization. Training increases awareness and establishes a specific outline of what is acceptable in the workplace and what is not. Do not take this training lightly; many problems can arise from neglecting to take appropriate measures to prevent and handle sexual harassment incidents.