When parsing through research, it’s obvious that compliance programs are imperative for any organization that wants to be successful long term, regardless of its size or revenue.
Noncompliance can potentially cost organizations thousands or millions of dollars in lawsuits, security breaches, regulatory fines, etc., every year. Yet 23% of organizations still don’t have formal compliance training programs, and a majority of other organizations only have “basic” or “reactive” compliance training programs.
The time to invest in compliance training programs is now, especially with the rise in mandatory harassment training, corporate fraud, and impending cybersecurity threats. However, you must ensure your compliance training programs are engaging if you want your employees to pay attention and remain compliant.
Here’s how you can make your compliance training programs more engaging.
Consider the Modern-Day Learner
The modern-day learner is always on the go and mobile, so develop compliance training programs that are mobile and on-demand via mobile apps. Also, be sure to focus on microlearning strategies if you want your compliance training materials to stick with modern-day learners long term.
Consider using virtual reality technology, hosting live webinars, and developing or sharing on-demand video content for your compliance training programs, as the modern-day learner is always consuming and searching for engaging and interactive content, especially video content.
Include Interactive Elements
If you want your compliance training programs to be more engaging, make sure they include interactive elements that rely on scenario-based learning and storytelling. Or, have learners do things as they learn. Have them complete polls and quizzes or engage in social learning.
Contextualize Training to Make It Relevant
If you truly want your learners to engage with your compliance training programs, make the programs relevant to their everyday work lives and responsibilities.
For example, you could demonstrate what it would be like for them to have to comply with harassment-prevention policies in everyday work scenarios or what may happen when they are responsible for security breaches and how they can prevent them every day.
Don’t simply provide employees with a manual of rules and expect them to comply with them. Employees must see how each compliance rule or regulation applies to them in everyday life, too.
Motivate and Incentivize Learners
Have employee learners earn badges or points when they complete a module in a compliance training program to incentivize them via gamification techniques to complete their program.
Or, offer small gift cards to those employees who complete their compliance training program requirements ahead of schedule. Also, require prospective leaders and managers to complete their compliance training programs before they can become eligible for promotions or additional responsibilities.
Rely on and Share Important Resources
Transparent company cultures have more engaged employees, so be sure to share relevant compliance-related information with your employees to encourage them to engage with and complete compliance training program requirements.
For example, share important statistics about likely injuries when using new machinery in a warehouse, or share your company’s sexual harassment reporting statistics during sexual harassment training programs to emphasize their importance.
Also, always make sure every employee has access to pertinent and updated compliance regulation, policy, and procedure documents.
Ensure your compliance training programs are more engaging by following the best practices mentioned above. And for additional insight, read “5 Best Practices for Getting Your Compliance Training to Stick” and “What Your Compliance Training Plan Should Include in 2019.”