Remote Working Compliance Training Topics

How to ensure compliance in a remote working environment

When it comes to corporate training topics, compliance is one of the most popular topics.

But in addition, corporate compliance training is one of the most complicated and in many cases less interesting topics for both employees and L&D managers. But it’s also something you should definitely check off your list if you don’t want your business to face legal and financial ramifications.

You know this. In the post-pandemic world of remote and hybrid work, compliance training doesn’t look the same anymore.

New regulations and changes in what constitutes a ‘safe workspace’ make it necessary to review existing training programs, adapt content and ensure that everyone remains compliant – along with the entire organization.

How remote working is reshaping compliance training

According to a recent study by McKinsey, 58% of Americans have the ability to work from home at least one day a week, while 35% can work from home five days a week. This is a big shift, especially because it’s not industry-specific: it affects even jobs traditionally labeled as “labourers,” for which on-site labor was a standard expectation.

The shift to remote working means companies may need to find new ways to train their teams on compliance. And while the focus on eLearning is a tried and true process (ie, relying on online courses and replacing in-person seminars with Zoom presentations), successful training isn’t just defined by delivery methods.

Compliance training topics need to change too

With the rise of remote working, companies need to review their training content and ensure it is still relevant and up to date. Even if the regulations themselves have not changed, the way organizations should apply these regulations may have changed. Especially when it comes to safety and security, both physically and online.

It is not easy to maintain a workplace that is compliant and also safe for everyone while your employees are spread over different locations (and often even different continents). But luckily, it can get easier for anyone with the right training.

5 compliance training topics to include in your programs

Drafting compliance training courses definitely feels different now than two years ago. Some things aren’t as important as they used to be, while others are now front and center.

1. Cyber ​​Security

Employees tend to think they have better digital hygiene habits than they actually do. And that includes everything from choosing strong passwords to keeping data safe. And while cybersecurity training has always been a pain point for businesses, when people work from home, it gets even harder to make sure everyone follows security protocols.

The numbers aren’t great: the transition to remote working has been accompanied by a increase in cyber attacks for 90% of companies.

That is why it is very important that your corporate compliance training also includes cybersecurity training. From dealing with cyber threats to understanding mandates such as EU GDPR requirements, it’s essential to teach your employees how to properly handle data and keep their systems secure.

Especially when you work from home, your employees’ computers and mobile devices can be more susceptible to viruses and malware. Or even on security breaches, because passwords were not stored properly and non-employees could access them. offer training in essential cybersecurity will go a long way in ensuring compliance and mitigating risks.

2. Business Ethics and Sexual Harassment

Business ethics is always an important topic to teach employees, but even more so when everyone is working from home. You must ensure that your staff follows your Code of Conduct in every interaction with colleagues and customers.

When teams are split, it is more difficult to control things like accepting gifts above a certain value (which could be considered bribery under US FCPA guidelines). So, compliance training in anti-bribery, whistleblowing, conflict of interest and others compliance essential can at least ensure that your employees know better than to engage in potentially shady behavior.

Another important aspect of business ethics is sexual harassment. While only 17 of the 50 US states currently have a legal mandate requiring employers to provide sexual harassment training to their employees, it is important to invest in this. You might think the topic is being brought up for discussion now that employees aren’t going to physically live together in the same room, but that’s far from the truth.

Sexual harassment in the workplace is not cell specific. The problem of sexual harassment at work didn’t magically disappear when people had to minimize their personal contact. The way employees communicate with each other, both in a virtual and written context, must be respectful and safe for everyone. And without training it will not be.

A survey by TalentLMS and The Purple Campaign showed that 29% of employees have experienced inappropriate behavior via video calls, text messages, email or other online platforms.

3. Work from home policy

The problem with remote working is that it doesn’t necessarily indicate where the work is taking place. Your employees can work from home, from their corner coffee shop or from a tropical beach.

And while that’s arguably a good thing for them (and for the quality of the work they produce), make sure you’re in compliance with all local laws. Previously, that just meant “the law of the US state in which your office is located,” but now you need to cover more ground.

For example, different states have different sick leave policies that you must adhere to if you have employees there, as well as different policies for expenses incurred on the job.

Monitor employees is also a complicated issue to be addressed during compliance training. Some US states require you to inform employees before doing this. To be on the safe side, you should probably let everyone know about your company policy and make it a part of your compliance training.

4. Working from home safety

With the move to remote working, some parts of your existing safety training may need to be removed. For example, there is no need to tighten up workplace safety if everyone is working remotely. However, that does not mean that safety protocols should still not be followed. Your employees need to be kept safe, and so should your customers.

Take your customer support specialists, for example. Previously, they took calls in a safe place, where everyone around had the same training and approach to data security. Now, however, your specialists are working from a brand new environment and the people around them should not be made aware of sensitive customer data. By providing training on work-from-home safety guidelines, your employees will understand how pre-existing regulations translate (if they are) for remote work.

And when it comes to the physical safety of your employees, things can get a little murky in remote working conditions. Surveys show that more than two in five workers have new or increased pain in their neck, back and/or shoulders, probably due to poor ergonomics. But how do you check that the equipment and furniture they use are optimal to avoid accidents and ergonomic problems?

Providing a stipend for office equipment is one solution. But with limited guidance from OSHA, it’s up to your company to make sure your employees understand best practices. Including home security training in your compliance curriculum can help with that.

5. Teleworker Legislation (for Team Leaders and HR Professionals)

But it’s not just your employees who need to understand the policies and security of working from home. Your HR team and team managers too.

For example, while there are many similarities between remote and onsite working when it comes to the FLSA, not everything is the same.

According to the Department of Labor (DOL), although you have to cover overtime, you don’t have to pay for unexpected, unplanned hours that you don’t know. In practice, this means that people should not work overtime without their supervisor’s knowledge and consent, as this can lead to unpleasant situations where there is a mismatch between what employees think they are owed in terms of overtime and what you are legally obliged to pay. Pay.

Regulatory compliance doesn’t just mean tracking your employees’ whereabouts and working hours. But also creating a culture of trust. Fortunately, there are many different ways and tools that can help set up simple processes, but ultimately HR and team leaders need to be aware of their obligations to external staff. Training helps build that awareness.

All business training matters…

…But training to work in accordance with applicable laws and regulations matters more. Because if done poorly (or not at all), your business could be exposed to fines for non-compliance, cyber-attacks, and a bad reputation with both employees and customers.

So, as you move to more flexible work models, make sure you update both your delivery practices and the content of your compliance training itself to include all the necessary topics.