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Serious insight for serious situations.

Serious insight for serious situations.

Bystander Intervention in the Workplace

About This Course

Bystanders are an underutilized resource in the workplace.  We know from the research that many people witness harassment and discrimination at work and almost as many do not report it. However, we also know that these same people, if provided with tools to address inappropriate workplace behaviour, can play a significant role in helping to reduce incidents of this behaviour at work.

We start this course by introducing participants to the concept of the “bystander” and the ways in which the “bystander effect” serves to limit the likelihood that employees will intervene to address inappropriate workplace behaviour. We help participants understand the unique role they can play in helping to eradicate this behaviour from their workplaces, and then teach them specific strategies for doing so. Finally, we review some of the main reasons why bystanders do not intervene and provide participants with strategies for overcoming their reluctance. Through group and other exercises, participants leave with the tools necessary to engage in bystander intervention and with the confidence to do so.

Learning Objectives

  • Understanding the concept of the “bystander”
  • Recognizing the important role that bystanders have to play in addressing inappropriate workplace behaviour
  • Familiarization with bystander intervention strategies

Course Topics Include

  • What is a “workplace bystander”?
  • Why don’t people help?
  • The “Bystander Effect”
  • Who do people help?
  • Bystander intervention strategies
  • Overcoming reluctance to intervene

Inquire Today

This is a 60-minute module that can be used as an add-on to our Respect at Work course or can be taken on its own. Please visit our Respectful Workplace Training page in order to contact us for more information on how to customize this module to fit the needs of your organization.

Inquire Today