Top 5 Tips to Implement Workplace Compliance Training

When raising the topic of training in the workplace, there tend to be two types of responses from your employees. They are either excited because they want to develop their careers and grow their skills (sadly this one is fairly rare) or, they immediately begin to rack their brains to figure out how they can phone in sick that day. Unfortunately, training is a vital part of running a business. Health and safety / compliance training is a major component of industrial sites, from construction to manufacturing, hospitality to retail. Why? Because in hands on industries such as these, lives can be at risk if rules and procedures are not adhered to. So how can we ensure workplace compliance training is properly delivered and effectively transferred back into the workplace?

1. Get people involved

People do not like being told what to do. Fact. Yes, some people like to have structure in their work, but people like to be treated as adults when they are in training. So give your employees the benefit of the doubt and ASK THEM what THEY think is important in their jobs to protect their safety and to ensure they are compliant with rules and regulations. If you give them ownership of the content, they are more likely to learn it and apply it at work.

2. Make it relevant

Often training is seen as pointless because it is not relevant. Make sure the training you give to your people is specific to their job role and that they will have the opportunity to apply what they have learnt in the workplace.

3. Make it interesting

Compliance topics can be boring, so do your best to keep your people energised. Don't lecture them, get them involved with hands on activities and practical application stories. Engagement is vital if you want people to use what they have learnt.

4. Make it top down & bottom up

Show the importance of the training from the top down. Make sure employees are aware that management see the true value in the training they are receiving and why. But, give them a chance to get involved in the content creation or decisions; they are likely to know the 'shop floor' - so to speak - better than you do.

5. Trust your people

Often, when training others, trainers take the stance that those they are teaching have little or no knowledge of the subject, and treat delegates as though they are stupid. If you are taking the time and covering the expense of training your people, treat them like the intelligent people you want them and know them to be. If you have hired people you cannot trust there is little point in training them to effectively operate your business.

Final thoughts

The purpose of training is to keep your people safe while also being productive. Giving employees a sense of independence in their learning will increase their motivation, and you will be more likely to see behaviors repeated in the workplace.