DISCUSSION
To incorporate training on these topics for the City’s civilian employees, Council Members, and Commissioners, several training providers and training courses were reviewed (Attachment A). Staff evaluated training courses with the primary consideration on the relevancy of the topic, type of training (on-line courses or in-person workshops, interactive participation or passive), efficiency of implementation and cost.
One company, Shift HR Compliance, has been identified to provide the most relevant, quality, interactive, and cost effective on-line training. The course specifically identified is titled “Unconscious Bias In The Workplace” and is described as follows: “Introduces the important concept of Unconscious Bias and explores the impact of such biases on employee’s work environment. Awareness-building activities help learners understand that we all have biases, and teaches strategies to interrupt and neutralize these biases, guiding learners to be better employees, co-workers and friends. This course focuses on moving beyond awareness-building. Real-life interactive scenarios provide practical experience in making conscious decisions to move beyond bias.”
This module can be integrated into the City’s existing Learning Management System with Target Solutions, and can be implemented quickly and efficiently.
Everfi Training’s course “Uncovering Unconscious Bias” is comparable to Shift’s course in relevancy but the cost is over $10,000 higher and is based on a flat rate. Kantola Training Solutions course “Diversity & Inclusion: A Step-by-Step Guide to Employees” does not specifically address the implicit bias topic, is too general and is similar to some of the courses already offered by the Orange County Employee Relations Consortium, through which our employees already receive training.
It should be noted that the Garden Grove Police Officers receive training on biased-based policing and racial profiling while in the academy, as it is required by the California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST), and participate in re-training every five years under the California PC 13519.4(a). Several of our officers are POST certified facilitators on these topics.
Additionally, all Officers receive annual training on biased-based policing and racial profiling and bi-annual training in the areas of tactical communication (de-escalation), ethics, and arrest and control techniques as required by POST.
Due to the fact that our City Police Officers are already required to take training through POST which covers topics similar to “implicit bias,” the training enhancement would be intended for all other City employees, as well as Council Members and Commissioners.