How do you make employee training inclusive? I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions?

> Offer training in various formats like video lectures, written guides, and interactive workshops. This caters to different learning styles and accessibility needs. > Use examples and scenarios reflecting your diverse workforce. > Ensure language is clear, avoids jargon, and offers closed captioning for videos. > Provide options for self-paced learning or multiple session times. > Offer additional support for those with learning disabilities or language barriers.

As an experienced work safety and incident investigation trainer, I would take an opportunity prior to the training session to know more about the participants. I would conduct: 1) a walkabout around the plant or complex to witness the work activities performed by the employees. 2) an informal discussion with the area supervisor on the challenges and risks faced by the workers. 3) a simple assessment of the previous reported incident or injuries at the area. 4) a study of best practices to be presented to the participants when the training session commences. The above mentioned actions are considered very critical in order to ensure the employees training is very inclusive and knnowledge-enriching. (A. Shukor)

A crucial aspect to consider here is the dynamic nature of the workforce. It's important to regularly reassess and update your understanding of the audience. Workforces evolve, and so do their training needs and backgrounds. Continual reassessment ensures that training remains relevant and inclusive, adapting to the changing demographics and skills of the workforce.

A lot of people consider that they need to make content accessible for only certain people, those with learning disabilities and neurodiversity. However accessible content benefits all. People may have a temporary disability which can affect their ability to learn. Accessible content benefits all.

An additional consideration is the importance of testing the training materials with actual users who use assistive technologies. This user testing can reveal practical challenges and barriers that might not be evident during the design phase. It's one thing to design with accessibility in mind and another to ensure that these measures function effectively in real-world scenarios.

To further enhance inclusivity, it's beneficial to involve employees from various backgrounds in the creation of the training content. This involvement ensures that the content is not only free from biases but also enriched with diverse insights and experiences. Such participation can also increase the feeling of ownership and relevance among the employees.

You can make your employee training more inclusive by ensuring a culturally sensitive approach. You need to deliver the content in a way that respects the cultural background of all attendees. For example, while U.S.-American participants feel comfortable in providing a different perspective to what the trainer is presenting, a participant that values hierarchy, will rarely voice they disagree with you on the matter. As a trainer, you need to recognize these different value orientations and find ways to navigate them successfully. This way, you can foster an environment where participants feel respected, valued, and able to contribute. This approach will ultimately enhance engagement and learning outcomes.

Whenever I conducted the so-called 'compliance training' - training which is deemed mandated by the Safety & Health authority, I'll make every opportunities for the participants to share their experiences in facing work hazards and succumbing to work-related injuries such as physical injuries, musculoskeletal injuries and physiological hazards (mental stress, fatigue and loss of sleep). In my 'Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis' training, I'll make sure that the participants highly involved in a role play group activity. We will practise important information gathering task like 'victim and witnesses interviewing session'. This session enables the employees to sharpen up their skills, sharing experiences and gain confident.

Adapt training formats: Use videos, audio, and text to cater to different preferences. e.g, provide video tutorials alongside written materials for better engagement. Allow employees to choose their learning speed, enabling those with busy schedules to manage their training effectively. Encourage collaborative tasks: Facilitate group activities that promote teamwork while respecting diverse communication styles, as breakout sessions in virtual training. Gather diverse feedback: Regularly solicit input from participants of varying backgrounds to continually improve the training experience. Utilize gamification: Incorporate games and challenges to make learning enjoyable and motivate employees, eg, earning badges for completing modules.

In addition to catering to different learning styles, providing personalized feedback mechanisms can significantly enhance learning. For instance, incorporating AI-driven tools that adapt to individual progress and provide customized feedback can help meet diverse learning needs more effectively.

One thing I've found helpful is the implementation of 'learning communities' post-training. These communities, facilitated through digital platforms or regular meet-ups, allow learners to continue discussing and applying what they've learned. They serve as a platform for peer support, knowledge sharing, and collaborative problem-solving, thereby extending the training's impact into the everyday work environment.

Below are a few suggestions: 1. Customized training or Tailor training content to be relevant and accessible to diverse audiences, considering different learning styles, languages, and abilities. 2. Ensuring that all training materials are accessible, including providing alternatives like captions for videos and transcripts for audio content. 3. Use of simple and clear language in training materials and presentations to avoid stereotypes or biases. 4. Creating a safe space for employees to provide feedback on the inclusiveness of training programs and incorporate their suggestions. 5. Including interactive activities that encourage teamwork and empathy, helping employees understand each other's perspectives.

As an occuaptional safety and health (OSH) trainer, I will make sure that there will be on-going communication after the inclusive training has completed. I shared my email address with the participants. And this has worked very well ever since. Also, I shared the relevant topics in my LINKEDIN account so that these employees can further increase their knowledge and understanding from time to time. (A. Shukor).

Making employee training inclusive is a necessity in the workplace, if not it will be a waste of time and resources. In Nigeria where I work, the audience usually sees training as an escape from the day-to-day job requirements so assessing the audience, their learning styles job roles and including perspectives to aid the transfer of learning to make it relevant in the workplace is super important. During training, I encourage: > teamwork and collaboration among team members to share knowledge and best practices. > Open communication, where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and providing feedback. > innovation, creativity and experimentation with new training methods and technologies to find innovative ways to engage trainees.

One thing I believe is so critical when conducting employee training is to be concerned about their expectations. They expect the trainer to be a subject matter expert! The management must seek out trainers who have the subject matter expertise, technical knowledge, skills, or abilities in the subjects they teach. Trainers should be competent in delivery techniques and methods appropriate to adult learning. They should maintain their training skills and experience related to their subject matter expertise and skills. Trainers should prepare their delivery methods and materials through planning and preparation and be skilled at managing the learning environment to meet the learners' needs. A. Shukor (Email: prof.shukor@gmail.com)