Online Class: Sensitivity Training for the Workplace

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
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10Lessons
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34Exams &
Assignments -
4,702Students
have taken this course -
7Hours
average time -
0.7CEUs
Course Description
The most successful organizations and professionals understand that being able to work well with others is critical in today's increasingly diverse workforce. If you have co-workers, employees, or managers who don't share the same beliefs, backgrounds, lifestyles, or traditions, then you – as well as your career – can benefit from our sensitivity training course.
This course will provide you with the following:
· The foundation you need to be culturally competent
· Cultural awareness and a greater understanding of cultural differences
· Enhancement of your cultural sensitivity
· Awareness and a greater understanding of gender differences in the workplace
· Generational training for improving communication between different generations
· An introduction to effectively working with members of the LGBT community
· Tools to reduce misunderstandings and create positive relationships in the workplace
· Knowledge of respectful behaviors that promote harmony with others in the organization
· Skills to resolve conflicts that may arise, as well as strategies to help get the results that are in the best interest of all parties.
· And more.
If your organization is growing and expanding into other countries, or if your staff is becoming more diverse, this training course will offer the insight you need to become more culturally competent. Our informative lessons will provide you the knowledge, understanding, and skills you need as well as provide multiple activities to practice and apply what you've learned.
Why should I take this sensitivity course?
How does sensitivity training increase business productivity?
There are several types of sensitivity training courses, how do I know which one to take?
What kind of certificate is awarded for completing this class?
I need this training for my staff in order to stay in compliance, how do I purchase it in bulk for them?
Course Motivation
This course is designed to be used as a sensitivity training program for individuals or groups in the workplace. The need for sensitivity training programs like this are on the rise as our general population becomes more and more diverse, and this diversity changes the makeup of the workforce.
However, before you begin this course, there are some things you need to understand about diversity and sensitivity training that will be critical to not only passing this course, but also actually learning and benefiting from it. In addition, there are some assumptions we made in creating the course that will help you understand the basis for the lessons, exercises, and activities that are assigned to you. We'll cover all of these things in this lesson, so that we can dispel any myths and arm you with the facts, before we go any further.
This course was designed to be used as a sensitivity training program for those in the workforce, entering the workforce, or groups wishing to bring this type of training program to the workforce. We will learn the meaning and purpose of this training, why it's important, and how you can constructively and successfully deal with diversity in an ever-changing workforce.
This course is divided into 12 lessons. At the end of each lesson, you will find lesson exercises/quizzes, as well as lesson activities/assignments. The lesson exercises are simply a series of multiple choice and true/false questions to quiz you on the material you've learned. These exercises are required in order to successfully complete this course.
Lesson activities are interactive, meaning you can complete these with a partner, or within a group setting. These activities help you put into practice what you've learned using simulations. Even though lesson activities are optional for all students, it's highly advised that you complete the activities using either the student forums, or with a friend.
Why Sensitivity Training is NeededA lot of myths have been created around sensitivity training since it's become fairly mainstreamed in the workplace. Again, you will encounter more than several people who believe that sensitivity training (or diversity training) has risen from the need for all of us to remain politically correct – and even tip-toe around certain groups of people as to not offend them. These things are not true.
That said, there are a lot of people who are resistant to the change in the workplace. Perhaps they are even somewhat resistant to embracing diversity, instead of shying away from it. How many times have you, or someone you know, been frustrated with a customer service representative on the phone who speaks broken English? Have you ever felt frustrated that a company Christmas party was renamed a holiday party, simply to respect the religious diversity that exists in your organization's workforce?
To you, the things listed in the last paragraph may not represent resistance to diversity. They may simply represent your beliefs that people in your country should speak your language. It may represent your belief that this is a Christian country, and we should be able to openly celebrate Christmas. To you or to others you know, it may represent a move to "the left" and to becoming politically correct at all times. However, that is not the case. Let's take a look at American history and the occurrences in history that have made this country more diverse today than it ever has been.
ImmigrationThe Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 all but removed the previous national-origins quota system that limited the number of immigrants allowed from certain counties, and gave preference to western Europeans. It also removed the exclusion of Latin Americans, Asians, and Africans. As a result of this law, immigration started to increase dramatically.
In the 30 years after passage of this law, more than 18 million immigrants entered the country legally. This was at least three times the number of those admitted in the 30 years prior. Instead of coming from mostly western European countries, these immigrants came from all over the world. In the 1990s, for example, only 16 percent of immigrants were Europeans, while 31 percent were Asian. The largest number of immigrants came from Mexico (4.3 million) and the Philippines (1.4 million). This is a sharp contrast to the 1950s, where over half of the immigrants were European and only 6 percent Asian.
This change in immigration changed the makeup of our population forever, but it also changed the face of the workplace that you now deal with today. The people you work with today come from all different parts of the world. They have different beliefs, different methods of communicating, and maybe even speak different languages.
Life Expectancy and Retirement
Thanks to medical advances, we are all living a lot longer (on average) than our grandparents and other ancestors did. In 1960, the average life expectancy was 69.7 years. In 1980, it was 73.7 years. It was 77.0 years in 2000, and it was 78.7 in 2010. As you can see, our life expectancy keeps climbing. We are living longer.
However, because we're healthier and living longer, we're also remaining in the workforce longer. It's not unusual for healthy senior citizens to decide to stay in the workforce, because they want to keep working, or to increase the Social Security benefits they'll receive at retirement.
The age for collecting Social Security benefits at retirement has risen from 65 years of age to 67 (if you were born in 1960 or later), with delayed retirement credits for those who delay collecting benefits until age 70. Although you can still retire and collect benefits at the age of 62, there are penalties for collecting before the full retirement age that has been established by the Social Security Administration. For a lot of senior citizens, this may mean staying in the workforce longer than their parents and grandparents did in order to retire more comfortably.
There are several federal laws in existence today to promote fairness in hiring and employment, therefore, preventing discrimination against someone due to their gender, religious beliefs, age, etc. These laws were created to give everyone a chance to succeed in the workplace and their careers, as well as to make sure that someone's differences aren't used as a reason to turn them down for a job they are otherwise qualified for, to pay someone less, or to treat them differently than any other employee.
Conclusion
Because the workforce is more diverse than ever before, sensitivity training is a critical aspect of career training. That said, understanding why sensitivity training is needed is the first step to becoming more sensitive to your own feelings, beliefs, and values, as well as to those around you in your organization.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1: Introduction to Diversity and Sensitivity Training
Lesson 1 Video
Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete: Assignment 1
Complete Assignment: An Introduction
Assessment: Lesson 1 Exam
Lesson 2: Recognizing Differences and Behavior by Looking Inward
Lesson 2 Video
Complete: Assignment 2-1
Complete: Assignment 2-2
Complete: Assignment 2-3
Assessment: Lesson 2 Exam
Lesson 3: It's All About Respect
Lesson 3 Video
Complete: Assignment 3-1
Complete: Assignment 3-2
Assessment: Lesson 3 Exam
Lesson 4: Facing Racial and Other Prejudices or Stereotypes
Lesson 4 Video
Complete: Assignment 4-1
Complete: Assignment 4-2
Assessment: Lesson 4 Exam
Lesson 5: Cultural Differences in the Workplace
Lesson 5 Video
Complete: Assignment 5-1
Complete: Assignment 5-2
Assessment: Lesson 5 Exam
Lesson 6: Let's Talk About Gender
Lesson 6 Video
Complete: Assignment 6-1
Complete: Assignment 6-2
Assessment: Lesson 6 Exam
Lesson 7: A Discussion About Disabilities
Lesson 7 Video
Complete: Assignment 7-1
Complete: Assignment 7-2
Complete: Assignment 7-3
Assessment: Lesson 7 Exam
Lesson 8: Generational Diversity Training
Lesson 8 Video
Complete: Assignment 8-1
Complete: Assignment 8-2
Assessment: Lesson 8 Exam
Lesson 9: LGBTQIA+ Sensitivity Training
Lesson 9 Video
Complete: Assignment 9-1
Complete: Assignment 9-2
Assessment: Lesson 9 Exam
Lesson 10: Resolving Conflicts
Lesson 10 Video
Lesson discussions: End of Course Poll; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
Complete: Assignment 10-1
Complete: Assignment 10-2
Complete: Assignment 10-3
Assessment: Lesson 10 Exam
Assessment: The Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- Describe what diversity and sensitivity training is and why it is important.
- Recognize differences and behaviors by looking inward.
- Describe facing racial and other prejudices or stereotypes in the workplace and how to react to them.
- Identify cultural differences in the workplace and determine how to deal with communication issues.
- Describe and recognize gender issues that arise in the workplace.
- Discuss disabilities in the workplace.
- Identify generational diversity training needs.
- Recognize LGBT sensitivity training needs.
- Describe processes for resolving conflicts that may arise because of diversity issues in the workplace.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Time to complete | 6 months |
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Time to complete | 6 months |
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Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
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Includes CEUs |
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Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Student Testimonials
- "Thank you sincerely for the content of this course. It summons deep thinking that is rewarding. It is impactful on my self awareness and shall drive respectful results. I've noticed situational improvements since starting the course, perhaps my own behavior and experience in the course is related to what may be perceived as overall situational improvement." -- Steven F.
- "As a 61 year old CEO of my own company this is been a very helpful and enlightening course! Thank you very much!" -- Robin M.
- "This is the first time I have been exposed or given training these topics. I have learned a great deal about both myself and others. I wish I had been exposed to these ideas long ago. Thank you!" -- David P.
- "This was very helpful. If I had taken this course earlier I would have avoided or resolved many previous conflicts." -- Cameron A.
- "I quite enjoyed this course and it was what I was looking for as a complete resource for digging into the topic of sensitivity issues." -- Paul H.
- "This is definitely a keeper. It's up-to-date and inclusive. It should be used as a preventative measure to all incoming employees." -- Rhonda S.
- "I spoke highly of this course to my supervisor and my coworkers. I basically told them all to take this course. We need to! My work place is very diverse in cultures as well as in generations. By taking this class, bridges to cross will be shorter and barriers crumble more. Thank you for this class." -- Maria C.
- "This was a great course. I had a conversation about it with my husband. He is in food service and has several coworkers that are LGBTQ, he struggles at times with communication, but asked a question I thought was valid. We discuss being sensitive to LGBTQ communities, but do we discuss how members of the LGBTQ community can communicate more of there needs/or preferences, when appropriate to people in a professional way. It seems there is opportunity for better communication and understand going each direction." -- Joanne M.
- "What a great experience! I am a middle-aged American male. My first thought was, 'OMG! Another liberal-agenda for society' I was enlightened indeed!" -- Samson N.
- "Instructor was fantastic. She marked the exams quickly and provided me with the confidence I needed to carry on." -- Mike C.
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