The Bystander Challenge: Workplace Bystander Intervention Training
The National Conflict Resolution Center’s (NCRC’s) bystander training empowers employees to be upstanders and address challenges with respect and dignity.
What is bystander intervention training?
The Bystander Challenge is an interactive bystander training that teaches employees to recognize, evaluate, and safely address harassment, microaggressions, or discrimination before issues escalate. As people learn to recognize red-flag behavior and communicate effectively, they will feel more confident being upstanders in their workplaces and communities.
Why is bystander training essential for your workplace?
Standing up to “red-flag” behavior is easier said than done. Workplace dynamics can make it challenging to choose the correct course of action.
Bystander intervention training not only helps you identify and stand up to red-flag behavior, but it will:
- Show you how to identify the reasons and values that may affect a person’s decision to act.
- Model how to evaluate situations with clarity and respond appropriately.
- Teach effective communication strategies to address concerns.
- Build a culture of collective responsibility, accountability, and psychological safety.
- Help organizations meet legal and ethical standards for harassment prevention.
Why choose NCRC’s Bystander Challenge?
NCRC’s bystander training for workplaces fulfills the legal requirement for anti-harassment training in all 50 states in the U.S. The Bystander Challenge can be customized to fulfill training requirements for both supervisory and non-supervisory employees (in some states).
In a safe learning environment, participants will gain confidence using bystander intervention skills, which are reinforced through thoughtful, interactive exercises and reflective conversations. NCRC’s bystander training has a proven positive impact on workplace culture and perceptions of safety, and includes the following benefits:
- Combines compliance with a culture-first approach
- Available as an in-person or virtual workshop
- Customizable sessions tailored to each organization’s needs (e.g., healthcare, higher education, nonprofits)
A structured program to educate individuals on when and how to intervene safely and effectively when witnessing harmful or inappropriate behavior.
Yes, our programs are customizable to meet the needs of your organization and can be conducted on-site or virtually.
NCRC can work with you to customize The Bystander Challenge so that it doesn’t include the anti-harassment and discrimination laws. This may be useful for companies that have already fulfilled their anti-harassment training requirement. NCRC encourages companies to consider The Bystander Challenge to demonstrate their commitment to a positive work environment where people feel safe and respected.