e-Learning Blog

Compliance refers to the act of "complying with laws" originally. However, the usage of compliance in a corporate setting is more broad and refers to "not only following laws, but also adhering to social rules and conducting business fairly and impartially."

Companies have a responsibility to pay their employees and protect their livelihoods, so they must maintain their existence. One of the necessary things for this is "social trust". That is why it is important for companies to comply with compliance.

In recent years, the importance of compliance education has increased and has become more and more attention.
The following are some of the reasons for this.

<Background of the Importance of Compliance Education>

●Digitalization is progressing, increasing the risk of information leakage

With the advancement of digitization, the amount of digital data handled by companies, such as customer information, transaction data, and confidential information, has increased. As a result, the risk of information leakage has also increased.

●There is also a possibility of "flaming" due to the spread of SNS.

With the spread of SNS and other platforms, anyone can easily share information in today's society. This means that there is a possibility for corporate and employee misconduct and fraud to be spread.

●The public's perception of scandals has become increasingly strict.

As excessive criticism and complaints become problematic, public perception of scandals has become stricter compared to the past. Therefore, when violations occur, it is expected to result in significant damage such as a decrease in stock prices and sales.

To avoid such risks, it is necessary for each employee to acquire the correct knowledge about compliance. In other words, compliance education can be said to be the most important issue for companies.

If there is a compliance violation, it has been found to lead to significant risks.
While it is a major goal of compliance education to make employees understand this, that is not the only purpose. Here, let's take a look at the various purposes of compliance education.

Purpose of Compliance Education

〈Purpose 1〉Understanding the Risks of Non-Compliance
To prevent non-compliance, it is effective to understand the consequences and impact that a company or employee may face when violating compliance. By presenting specific cases from other companies' past experiences, it is possible to perceive it as a personal matter.

〈Purpose 2〉Risk Management for Compliance Violations
In the event of a compliance violation, there is a concern for further increase in risk if the initial response is incorrect. Therefore, it is important to learn how to respond appropriately when a problem occurs. Conduct exercises based on actual scenarios to raise awareness among employees.

〈Purpose 3〉Acquiring Rules as a Working Adult
Compliance education is a common theme in many new employee trainings. For new employees with limited experience and knowledge as working adults, compliance education is a valuable opportunity to learn the basic rules of society and appropriate behavior as a member of a company.

To achieve these goals, the first step is to acquire a diverse knowledge of compliance. So, what specifically will we learn?
Here are some examples of compliance education content.

〈Education Content 1〉Revised Personal Information Protection Law and Methods for Protecting Personal Information
With the full implementation of the "Revised Personal Information Protection Law" in April 2022, all businesses handling personal information have become subject to this law. In addition, new provisions focusing on the digital society have been added and penalties have been strengthened. Based on this law, we will learn how to protect customers' personal information and what precautions to take regarding personal information protection.

〈Education Content 2〉Information Security
With the increase of companies implementing remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of cyber attacks and data breaches has also increased. Therefore, it is essential to learn about information security measures outside of the company, such as having a correct understanding of internet environments and taking necessary actions in coworking spaces.

〈Education Content.3〉Harassment
It is also important for all employees to have accurate knowledge and a common understanding of harassment, including prevention and response methods, differences in values and perceptions. As a result, the overall literacy of the workplace will be strengthened, preventing oneself from becoming a perpetrator or victim of harassment.

〈Education Content.4〉Infringement of Copyright and Patent Rights
When quoting text or data from other company media, there are rules that must be followed. If these rules are not followed, it can be considered as "infringement of intellectual property rights" and may violate copyright and patent laws, leading to potential legal issues. To prevent such risks, it is important to understand the basic principles of copyright and patent rights.

〈Education Content.5〉Preventing Inappropriate Posts and Controversies on SNS
Inappropriate posts and controversies on SNS can have a significant impact on a company's image and credibility. Therefore, learning about guidelines for appropriate use and content on SNS can be effective in avoiding risks. By providing specific examples of troubles, employees will become more aware and cautious even in their private lives.

What are the methods for learning about compliance training?
We will explain each feature in detail.

●Group Training

Group training is conducted by gathering employees at the same date and location. The role of the instructor can be taken on by an internal staff member or an outside specialist may be invited. The advantage is that it can be implemented for a large number of employees at once. However, it also requires time and effort for preparation, as well as securing a schedule and training venue. In addition, follow-up for absentees is also necessary.

●Training through group work and role-playing

This training combines group work, discussions, and role-playing with mainly classroom-based training. Employees can learn practically through real scenarios and cases, allowing for a deeper understanding. Additionally, by exchanging opinions and sharing perspectives and experiences with other participants, it can broaden one's perspective. However, there is a possibility that it may require more time and effort than group training.

●Online Training

Online training using web conferencing tools such as Zoom and Teams is particularly efficient for companies with multiple branches, as it allows for learning regardless of location. However, because the time is fixed, it can be time-consuming to coordinate schedules.

●e-learning

With e-learning, you can take training online at any time and place, which is a great advantage. Since learning can be done at each person's preferred timing, it can also lead to an increase in participation rate. On the other hand, it is necessary to establish a support system as it is not possible to ask questions or consult with the instructor.

There are pros and cons to each implementation method. Consider the characteristics of each and choose the best method for your company.

In addition, when implementing compliance education, there are two options: conducting it in-house or outsourcing it externally. The main external outsourcing options include human resource training companies, law firms, and e-learning vendors (sales companies).

〈Cases handled in-house〉

We are able to provide highly flexible education tailored to our own unique needs and policies, which can help reduce costs compared to outsourcing. However, this also means that the time and effort required for education will increase. In addition, creating instructors and educational materials requires a certain level of specialized knowledge and experience, so companies without such experts may not be able to guarantee the quality of their materials.

<External Outsourcing Cases>

●Human Resources Training Company

A human resources training company that specializes in various training programs typically has a structured curriculum for lectures. In the field of compliance, they offer a wide range of basic lectures on the significance of education, harassment, information security, and more.

●Law Firm

This is a case where we ask a legal expert who is well-versed in the field of compliance. By having a lawyer with extensive knowledge and experience, and who is also up-to-date with the latest information, supervise, we can create more accurate teaching materials. Additionally, when inviting as a lecturer, it is also attractive to be able to obtain appropriate advice for employee questions.

●e-Learning vendor

If you are considering training through e-learning, it is effective to consult with a vendor. In addition to being able to obtain various materials related to compliance, you can easily start by using a system for implementing e-learning as a set. Furthermore, it is also possible to create original materials.

To conduct compliance education, various processes such as preparing materials and setting up training are necessary. Of course, it is good to cover everything within the company, but by utilizing external resources for some processes or materials, you can efficiently implement higher quality education.

In this chapter, we will introduce the "key points to keep in mind" when conducting compliance education. By being aware of these points and putting them into practice, we can expect to promote understanding and achieve higher learning effectiveness.

〈Point 1〉Creating Materials that Foster a Sense of Responsibility
Compliance education is an important issue for companies, but many employees may perceive it as not directly related to their work or skills, and some may have a lax understanding. Therefore, it is effective to incorporate case studies and scenarios into the materials to make employees realize the seriousness of risks and foster a sense of responsibility. It is also effective to provide opportunities for discussion and other "output" activities to raise awareness among employees.

〈Point 2〉Regular Learning Opportunities
In the field of law and regulations, changes occur every year, such as amendments and new laws being created. In order to be able to respond to such changes immediately, compliance education needs to be conducted regularly and continuously. Additionally, providing regular learning opportunities helps to solidify knowledge and maintain a high level of awareness for compliance.

<Point 3>Choosing an Easy-to-Learn Training Method for Employees
Compliance education is education on laws and regulations that apply to the entire organization, so all employees need to learn it. Therefore, let's choose a training method that is easy for all employees to attend. In the case of companies with a large number of employees, it is common to introduce e-learning that can be learned in spare time for each individual.

〈Point 4〉Changing Training Content by Position
In the previous section, we explained that all employees should receive compliance education, but depending on the content of the education, it may be necessary to conduct it by hierarchy, such as position or job title.
Below is a summary of the content that should be learned by position.

〈Management〉
Members of the management team need to understand the importance of compliance from a strategic perspective.
In addition, knowledge of establishing basic policies and rules related to compliance, as well as building a system, is also important for achieving smooth operation.

〈Administrator and Mid-level Employees〉
In addition to basic compliance, education is required to acquire knowledge and behavior that serves as a role model for subordinates. It is also necessary to have knowledge of how to deal with subordinates who have committed compliance violations.

〈Employees and New Employees〉
In addition to basic knowledge about compliance, it is necessary for each person to be aware of their own actions and how they handle social media in their private lives. Furthermore, young employees and new employees who are more likely to become victims of harassment can deepen their understanding of how to protect themselves by receiving harassment training.

Thorough compliance education is an essential element in establishing a sustainable business environment. Additionally, through compliance education, both the company and employees can develop a shared understanding of compliance, leading to increased trust and the ability to build a healthy corporate culture.

As mentioned above, compliance education, which holds the key to the survival of a company, is necessary for all employees to receive. Therefore, we recommend learning through e-learning. E-learning, which can be done anytime and anywhere, allows each employee to learn flexibly according to their own schedule.

At Human Science, which has a wealth of experience in creating e-learning materials, we offer compliance training materials that can learn basic knowledge and concepts of compliance, such as "Basic Knowledge Edition" "Basic Knowledge Edition" and "Case Study Edition 1" "Case Study Edition 1", "Case Study Edition 2", regardless of industry. In addition to providing materials, we also support total support such as creating original materials and building and operating e-learning systems.

"If you are thinking of starting compliance education from now on" or "if you want to review your existing compliance education", please feel free to consult with us."

Please also refer to Human Science Co., Ltd.'s e-learning site.

▶Human Science's e-learning service