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Building Employee Inclusion and Upstander Culture

Workplace culture is shaped by how people respond in key moments.

This training helps employees recognize opportunities to step in, support colleagues, and navigate difficult workplace situations with greater awareness and confidence. Learners build the communication and judgment skills needed to respond thoughtfully, strengthen accountability, and contribute to workplace interactions built on trust and respect.

Three employees smiling and supporting one another during a positive workplace interaction focused on inclusion and teamwork.

Audience

All employees

Format

Self-paced, scenario-based online training

Duration

20 minutes

Download course details Request a demo

The impact of employees taking action in the workplace.

SHIFT helps you equip employees to recognize when to step in and respond effectively in everyday situations.

$1 trillion

left on the table each year by companies not building strong workplace cultures

74%

of millennial employees say their organization is more innovative when employees contribute to a stronger culture

61%

of HR leaders are only somewhat confident employees feel included at work

Workplace culture is shaped through everyday decisions, interactions, and responses. Building Employee Inclusion and Upstander Culture helps employees recognize moments where support, accountability, or action may be needed and build the judgment and confidence to respond thoughtfully in ways that strengthen trust, communication, and team relationships.

Awareness matters. Action changes outcomes.

Course overview

Building Employee Inclusion and Upstander Culture equips employees to recognize how everyday interactions shape workplace dynamics and when to step in. Through interactive scenarios and practical examples, learners explore how hesitation, assumptions, and uncertainty influence decision-making. The course builds the skills needed to respond thoughtfully and contribute to stronger, more effective team interactions.

 

Beyond awareness to action

Most workplace culture training focuses on what employees should know. SHIFT’s approach focuses on what employees actually do. Participants learn to recognize moments where inaction can affect outcomes, evaluate their options, and respond in ways that improve communication, reduce friction, and influence how teams respond to one another over time.

Key learner takeaways

This training builds the ability to:

  • Recognize the difference between bystander and upstander behavior
  • Identify moments where action may be needed in everyday situations
  • Navigate uncertainty and decide how to respond appropriately
  • Support colleagues through practical, situation-based actions
  • Contribute to stronger communication and more effective team dynamics

I am a huge fan of all of the materials and education SHIFT provides for the growth and success of individual learners in the workplace.

Janney Montgomery Scott logo

Erika Whyte
VP, Director Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Built on legal and workplace expertise.

SHIFT’s training is designed not just to build awareness, but to help employees navigate everyday workplace situations and make better decisions in the moment.

  • Reviewed and designed by employment law attorneys
  • Developed with insights from workplace culture, psychology, and behavioral research
  • Focuses on practical action, not just awareness
  • Engaging scenarios drawn from real workplace interactions
  • Reflects the complexity of decision-making in ambiguous situations
  • Empowers employees to translate learning into consistent workplace behavior
Building Employee Inclusion and Upstander Culture Course Activity Screenshot

Proven to change behavior.

  • Moves beyond “check-the-box” training with realistic workplace scenarios
  • Highlights subtle moments where action is often overlooked
  • Interactive content encourages reflection and perspective-taking
  • Shows how small decisions influence team dynamics and outcomes
  • Teaches practical judgment and situational decision-making
  • Builds confidence to act when situations are unclear

The result is employees who recognize key moments earlier and take appropriate action to improve workplace interactions and outcomes.

Building Employee Inclusion and Upstander Culture Course Definition Screenshot

Course details

Format
Self-paced eLearning with interactive scenarios and reflection points
Duration
20 minutes
Languages
English and Spanish (others available upon request)
Certificate
Instant certificate download
Accessibility
WCAG 2.1 AA compliant, screen-reader compatible, closed captions included
Flexible Delivery Options
SCORM-ready training, deployable via client LMS or hosted by SHIFT
Customization
Branding options and full content tailoring available, with updates reviewed to maintain alignment with legal requirements
White Glove Implementation
Dedicated Project Manager
SCORM integration
LMS set-up & admin training
Go-live support and post-launch check-ins

Frequently asked questions about upstander training.

An upstander is someone who recognizes when a situation requires action and chooses to respond rather than remain passive, helping improve interactions and outcomes.

Supervisors and non-supervisory employees. The course is designed to build practical decision-making skills across all roles.

Approximately 20 minutes, with self-paced interactive scenarios.

It is practical. The course focuses on real workplace situations and helps employees decide how to act in moments where the right response may not be obvious

See how SHIFT prepares your teams for real workplace decisions.

Request a demo

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