Innovative VR Solutions for Effective Sexual Harassment Training
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Chapter 1: The Need for Change in Sexual Harassment Training
In many workplaces, conventional sexual harassment training falls short in effectiveness. To address this issue, one woman has devised a secure and realistic environment where employees can rehearse their responses to challenging situations.
By Jared Lindzon
After experiencing sexual violence at work, Morgan Mercer recognized that existing training methods aimed at preventing such incidents were inadequate, prompting her to take action. Last year, she left her job to establish Vantage Point, a company dedicated to enhancing sexual harassment training through virtual reality (VR). Mercer believes that this immersive technology offers a safe yet realistic platform for employees to practice their responses and understand the effects of their decisions on others.
“Organizations are beginning to realize that women are dissatisfied, and it’s high time we reassess our approach to these crucial issues,” Mercer states. “Historically, we have not treated them with the seriousness they deserve, and the training programs in place have failed to produce the desired outcomes.”
She further explains that sexual harassment training is often regarded as merely a compliance requirement, overshadowing its importance for workplace safety. “We introduced our training methods about 40 years ago, yet we still do not see the anticipated impact in terms of engagement and real-world application,” she notes. “Companies have not traditionally prioritized this issue.”
Section 1.1: A New Approach to Bystander Training
Mercer's innovative solution involves a fully immersive training experience. Unlike traditional methods that focus on victims or perpetrators, her VR training places users in the position of bystanders, allowing them to choose how to react to various workplace scenarios and witness the consequences of their choices.
“It resembles a choose-your-own-adventure story,” she explains. “You begin with a scene where subtle behaviors may escalate to quid-pro-quo harassment, microaggressions, or pervasive conduct towards a female manager, presenting you with opportunities to intervene.”
According to Emily Gregory, VP of development at leadership training provider VitalSmarts, effective training should go beyond simply outlining prohibited behaviors and offer alternative actions.
“You can’t just list rules; you must provide replacement behaviors,” she asserts. “Moreover, it’s essential to allow individuals to practice skills in realistic settings and receive feedback.”
Gregory compares corporate training to perfecting a golf swing. “You don’t practice on the course; you visit the driving range to hone your skills in a safe environment,” she explains.
Section 1.2: Evaluating the Potential and Limitations of VR
“This is where virtual reality presents both opportunities and challenges,” Gregory notes. “While VR can create realistic conditions, true realism often requires direct human interaction.”
As stated by Johnny C. Taylor Jr., CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, sexual harassment training typically takes two forms: live sessions or online courses. “Many companies prefer in-person training for the immediate Q&A and group context it provides,” he says. “However, with the rise of remote work, online training—including VR—is gaining traction.”
Taylor emphasizes that VR can address two major drawbacks of online training: maintaining user engagement and providing relevant real-world context. He believes that while VR training is a positive step, it should not be the sole solution for fostering a safer workplace.
“Training can certainly improve, and virtual reality is a valuable enhancement,” he comments. “However, many harassment incidents occur due to individuals knowingly crossing boundaries, rather than a lack of training.”
He argues that in some cases, no training can change behavior; the real need is to transform a workplace culture that permits inappropriate actions.
Chapter 2: Embracing Technology to Transform Workplace Culture
One of Vantage Point’s early supporters, Josh Resnick—CEO and co-founder of luxury candy brand Sugarfina—believes in the technology’s potential to shift workplace culture. “I was so impressed that I chose to invest in the company,” he shares.
Resnick observes that many employees lack the chance to practice their responses to workplace harassment and feels that the virtual setting allows for more effective training than existing methods. “The interactive nature of VR lets you customize the experience for each participant,” he explains. “You can explore various paths and if you make a mistake, you can backtrack and learn from it.”
Resnick plans to implement the Vantage Point training program within his team of 80 before expanding it to their 500-strong organization. While it’s too early to provide concrete statistics on the program’s success, Mercer notes that initial feedback suggests strong interest and adoption.
“We’ve received numerous inquiries from Fortune 100, 500, and 1000 companies across the U.S. and Europe,” she reveals. “As a company that launched a seed round six months ago, we’re witnessing remarkable interest and adoption, indicating a real demand for innovative solutions to tackle this issue.”
The first video discusses the significance of corporate diversity and inclusion training through VR. It delves into how immersive experiences can effectively prepare employees for real-world scenarios.
The second video focuses on designing AR/VR strategies tailored to the needs of end users, emphasizing the importance of customization in corporate training programs.
Jared Lindzon is a freelance journalist based in Toronto, who writes about technology, entrepreneurship, and entertainment for various publications across North America and beyond. When not exploring gadgets or interviewing innovators, he is likely honing his bio-writing skills.