e-Learning Blog

Compliance originally means "to adhere to laws and regulations." However, the use of compliance in a corporate context is broader, referring not only to obeying laws but also to following social rules and conducting business fairly and equitably.

Companies have a responsibility to pay their employees and protect their livelihoods, which is why they must exist. One of the necessary elements for this is "social trust." This is why it is important for companies to comply with regulations.

In recent years, the importance of compliance education has increased and has become more and more recognized.
The following backgrounds can be cited as reasons for this.

Background of the Importance of Compliance Training

●As digitalization progresses, the risk of information leakage increases

With the advancement of digitalization, the amount of digital data handled by companies, such as customer information, transaction data, and confidential information, has increased, and the risk of information leakage has also risen accordingly.

●The spread of social media may lead to the possibility of "flaming"

In today's world, where the proliferation of social media allows anyone to easily share information, there is a possibility that problematic behaviors and misconduct of companies and employees can spread.

●Public perception of scandals is becoming stricter

Public perception of scandals has become stricter compared to the past, to the extent that excessive criticism and complaints have become problematic. Therefore, in the event of a violation, it is expected to lead to significant damages such as a decline in stock prices and a decrease in sales.

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

We have learned that compliance violations can lead to significant risks.
One of the main objectives of compliance training is to help employees understand this, but it is not the only one. Here, we will look at the various purposes of compliance training.

Compliance Training Objectives

Purpose.1 Understanding the Risks of Compliance Violations
To prevent compliance violations, it is effective for companies and employees to understand what sanctions or impacts they may face in the event of a violation. By presenting specific cases, such as past examples from other companies, individuals can better relate to the issue.

Purpose.2 Risk Management Due to Compliance Violations
In the event of a compliance violation, an incorrect initial response may lead to an increase in further risks. Therefore, it is also important to learn the appropriate response at the time the issue arises. Conduct exercises assuming real-life scenarios to encourage awareness among employees.

Purpose.3: Acquiring Rules as a Working Professional
Compliance training is a theme adopted in many new employee training programs. For new employees who lack experience and knowledge as working professionals, compliance training 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 diverse knowledge about compliance. So, what specifically will you learn?
Here is an example of the content of compliance training.

Educational Content.1: Revised Personal Information Protection Law and Methods of Protecting Personal Information
With the full enforcement of the Revised Personal Information Protection Law in April 2022, all businesses handling personal information have become subject to this law. Additionally, new regulations focusing on responding to the digital society have been added, and penalties have been made stricter. Based on this legislation, you will acquire knowledge about how to protect customer personal information and what to pay attention to regarding personal information protection.

Educational Content.2 Information Security
In recent times, with the increase of companies adopting remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of cyber attacks and data breaches has also risen. Therefore, it is essential to learn about proper awareness regarding the internet environment and the actions to take in coworking spaces and other external settings for information security measures.

Educational Content.3 Harassment
It is also important for all employees to have accurate knowledge and a common understanding of harassment, including prevention methods, response strategies, and differences in values and perceptions. As a result, the overall literacy in the workplace is strengthened, preventing individuals from becoming either perpetrators or victims of harassment.

Educational Content.4 Infringement of Copyright and Patent Rights
When quoting text or data from other companies' media, there are established rules. Failing to adhere to those rules can result in infringement of intellectual property rights, which may violate copyright law or patent rights and lead to legal issues. To prevent such risks, it is important to understand the basic principles regarding copyright and patent rights.

Educational Content.5: Prevention of Inappropriate Posts and Outrage on SNS
Inappropriate posts and outrage on social media can significantly impact a company's image and credibility. Therefore, learning guidelines on the proper use of social media and the content of posts is effective for risk avoidance. By presenting specific examples of troubles, employees will become more aware of the risks and will be more cautious even in their private lives.

What methods are available for training to learn about compliance?
I will explain along with the characteristics of each.

●Group Training

Group training gathers employees at the same date and location. The instructor may be an internal staff member or an external expert invited for the session. The advantage is that it can be conducted for a large number of employees at once. However, it requires significant preparation time, and it is necessary to secure schedules and training venues. Additionally, follow-up for absentees is also required.

●Training through group work and role-playing

This training combines classroom-based group training with group work, discussions, and role-playing. Employees can learn practically through real scenarios and cases, which deepens their understanding. Additionally, participants exchange opinions and share others' perspectives and experiences, broadening their horizons. However, it may require more effort than traditional group training.

●Online Training

Online training using web conferencing tools such as Zoom and Teams is particularly efficient for companies with many branches, as it allows learning regardless of location. However, since the time is fixed, it can lead to the hassle of scheduling.

●e-Learning

Even in the same online environment, e-learning training has the advantage of being accessible regardless of time or place. Since individuals can learn at their preferred timing, it also leads to an increase in participation rates. On the other hand, as it is not possible to ask questions or consult with instructors, it is necessary to establish a support system.

In this way, there are advantages and disadvantages to every implementation method. Consider the characteristics of each and choose the most suitable means for your company.

In addition, when conducting compliance training, there are cases where it is done in-house and cases where it is outsourced. The external contractors are mainly training companies, law firms, and e-learning vendors.

Case Studies Conducted In-House

It is possible to provide highly flexible training tailored to our unique needs and policies, which can reduce costs compared to outsourcing. On the other hand, the time and effort required for training will increase. Additionally, creating instructors and materials requires a certain level of specialized knowledge and experience, so for companies that do not have such experts, there is a possibility that the "quality of the materials" cannot be guaranteed.

Outsourcing Cases

●Human Resource Training Company

Training companies that specialize in various training programs generally have a structured curriculum for their lectures. In the field of compliance, it is characterized by a wide range of foundational lectures covering the significance of education, harassment, information security, and more.

●Law Firm

This is a case where you consult legal experts who are well-versed in the field of compliance. By having knowledgeable and experienced lawyers who are also up-to-date with the latest information supervise the materials, higher precision educational content can be created. Additionally, when invited as instructors, the ability to receive accurate advice in response to employee questions is also an attractive feature.

●e-Learning Vendor

If you are considering training through e-learning, it is effective to consult with a vendor. You can obtain various materials related to compliance, and by using a system to implement e-learning, you can easily get started. Furthermore, it is also possible to create original materials.

To implement compliance training, various processes such as preparing materials and setting up training sessions are required. While it is certainly good to cover everything in-house, utilizing external resources for some processes or materials can lead to more efficient and higher-quality training.

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

Point 1: Creating Educational Materials that Foster a Sense of Ownership
Compliance training is an important issue for companies, but employees often perceive it as not directly related to their work or skills, leading to a lack of awareness among some individuals. Therefore, to help them realize the seriousness of the risks and foster a sense of ownership, let's incorporate case studies and scenarios into the educational materials. Additionally, establishing opportunities for output such as discussions can be effective in enhancing awareness among employees.

Point 2: Provision of Regular Learning Opportunities
The fields of law and regulation undergo changes almost every year due to amendments and the introduction of new laws. To respond promptly to such changes, compliance training must be conducted regularly and continuously. Additionally, by providing educational opportunities on a regular basis, knowledge is reinforced, and awareness of compliance is maintained at a high level.

Point 3: Choose Training Methods That Are Easy for Employees to Attend
Compliance training is education regarding laws and regulations that apply to the entire organization, so all employees need to learn. Therefore, let's choose training methods that are easy for all employees to attend. In companies with a large number of employees, it is common to implement e-learning that each individual can learn during their spare time.

Point 4: Change Training Content by Position
In the previous section, it was explained that all employees should receive compliance training, but depending on the content of the training, it may be necessary to conduct it by hierarchy, such as by position or rank.
Below, we have summarized 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.
Furthermore, knowledge related to the formulation of basic policies and rules regarding compliance, as well as the establishment of systems, is also important for achieving smooth operations.

Managers and Mid-level Employees
Not only is a basic understanding of compliance required, but education that equips them with the knowledge and behaviors to serve as role models for their subordinates is also necessary. Additionally, knowledge on how to handle situations when subordinates commit compliance violations is essential.

Employees and New Hires
In addition to basic knowledge of compliance, it is necessary for each individual to raise their awareness regarding their behavior in private and the handling of social media. Furthermore, younger employees and new hires, who are more likely to become victims of harassment, can deepen their understanding of how to protect themselves by participating in harassment training.

Thorough compliance training is an essential element in establishing a sustainable business environment. Additionally, through compliance training, both the company and employees can develop a shared understanding of compliance, which enhances mutual trust and fosters a healthy corporate culture.

In this way, compliance training, which holds the key to the survival of the company, as mentioned earlier, is necessary for all employees to undergo training. Therefore, we recommend learning through e-learning. E-learning, which does not restrict location or time, allows each employee to learn flexibly according to their own schedule.

Human Science, with a wealth of experience in e-learning material production, offers compliance training materials that cover basic knowledge and concepts, such as "Basic Knowledge Edition", and materials that promote understanding through specific case studies, including "Case Study Edition 1" and "Case Study Edition 2", applicable across various industries. In addition to providing materials, we also offer comprehensive support for creating original materials and building and operating e-learning systems.

If your company is considering starting compliance training or reviewing existing compliance training, please feel free to contact us.

Please also refer to the e-learning site of Human Science Co., Ltd.

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