Redesigning POSH Training Changed Everything—Here's What I Didn’t Expect to Learn About Respect at Work

Let’s be honest—most POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) training feels like a checkbox exercise.

 We roll it out, ensure people complete it, and move on.

But a while ago, I was asked to lead a redesign of our POSH training. At first, I thought: “Okay, we’ll update the content, refresh the slides, add a few more case studies.” But very quickly, I realized the real issue wasn't the training materials—it was the mindset behind them.

Most POSH programs are built around legal compliance. Important? Absolutely. But not enough.

 They teach people what not to do, but rarely focus on what we should be doing to build respectful, safe environments—especially in fast-paced, people-driven industries like hospitality.

So we flipped the script.

We stopped treating POSH as a policy manual and started using it as a tool to spark real conversations.

 Here’s what changed:

We ditched abstract scenarios and focused on real-life workplace moments that people actually encounter.

We trained on how to speak up in the moment—not just how to report something later.

We involved managers, team leads, and frontline staff in discussions—not lectures.

And most importantly, we tied the message back to our values, not just compliance rules.

The impact?

 A 40% jump in training engagement.

 But more than that—we saw a clear shift in how people talked about the program. It went from “Ugh, another HR training” to “This actually helped me handle something last week.”

It made me realize: We don’t need more rules—we need better culture. And culture starts with everyday behaviors, not policies on paper.

If you're in HR or L&D—especially in hospitality where team dynamics are everything—you know how hard this is. But you also know how powerful it can be when done right.

I’d love to hear from others:

 Have you seen POSH or compliance training that actually made people feel safer, more respected, more empowered?

 Let’s swap ideas. We need more of this.

#POSH #RespectAtWork #HospitalityLeadership #HRinHospitality #LearningAndDevelopment #CultureChange #PsychologicalSafety #InclusiveWorkplaces #HospitalityHR #UpstanderCulture #L&DLeadership