Understanding the hidden costs of harassment prevention and DEI training

It has never been more important for organizations to enact purposeful agendas around workplace harassment and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). When implemented thoughtfully, high-quality training programs can be vital and cost-effective tools for improving workplace culture while mitigating the significant risks the modern world carries.

Companies have long used training to meet compliance requirements. Harassment prevention training focuses on the difficult topic of sexual harassment, as well as other forms of harassment and discrimination. DEI training demonstrates how employees experience the workplace differently depending on their identities; how unconscious bias, microaggressions and other forms of exclusion cause harm; and how everyone can support DEI initiatives. 

Effective training should be deeply engaging and should reinforce your organization’s policies while providing practical tools for addressing issues that arise.

Understanding the cost of training

The true cost of harassment prevention and DEI training can be deceptive: it’s easy to focus on the price of obtaining the training, when in fact it is a small expense when measured against your total costs.

The first hidden cost to consider is the opportunity cost of your employees’ time while training. Like all-staff meetings costing thousands per minute, having everyone in an organization complete a training is inherently expensive. Employers are right to look for the highest quality training to ensure employees receive the greatest value and learning for time spent.

The cost of training administration is also easy to overlook. HR teams can invest significant time and money keeping records of completed trainings and managing annual and state-specific training for both employees and managers.

Online training has emerged as an option that delivers a consistent, convenient and impactful experience. Though training may cost thousands of dollars depending on organization size, it is powerful and easy to administer, especially with the shift to remote work.