The Co-operative Group (Co-op) is tackling bullying and harassment issues through drama-based training.
The retailer has been running half-day workshops for senior managers in its Manchester headquarters and showing a training film to its 65,000 employees.
The workshops, facilitated by Steps drama, are tailored to different sectors of the business, which includes food stores, funeral branches and pharmacies. About 140 managers participated in role-play scenarios focusing on difficult situations and inappropriate employee behaviours.
The 12-minute film, called Respect Works, demonstrates various scenarios of bullying and harassment at work, including a manager bullying an employee in front of their colleagues.
The film shows the Co-op’s director of HR discussing how respect at work can create a more productive environment and organisational values. Regional trainers from across the group then discuss the issues covered in feedback sessions.
“Our different businesses use different training approaches,” explains Amanda Jones, head of diversity at Co-op. “We thought a short film would be the most flexible way to provide a consistent message which could be incorporated into the different training approaches.”
