| Today's law-enforcement officer has to contend | | | | graphic representations such as interactive tests, |
| with a bevy of issues that arise from not | | | | Power Point presentations, and video elements |
| following protocol: pay loss, sizable fines, extra | | | | are necessary for internalizing the new |
| labor hours, missed criminal convictions, and, | | | | information. Since training is one of the most |
| ultimately, loss of employment. With all the new | | | | time-consuming (and costly) tasks involved in |
| digital documentation devices available, it would | | | | adding employees to the payroll, streamlining the |
| seem that a better policy-management and | | | | employee education process is crucial. Technology |
| employee-testing software system would be | | | | allows us to create employee testing software |
| firmly in place. Unfortunately, there's always that | | | | that is quick, effortless, and entirely web-based. |
| one lawsuit that leaks out, and the media runs | | | | After all, training on job duties and internal policy |
| wild with it. | | | | management should be as easy as getting on the |
| Take, for instance, the Austin, Texas Police | | | | Internet or checking email. |
| Department's policy on using dash cameras. After | | | | A software suite that's compatible with the needs |
| an officer shot a suspect fatally without recording | | | | of an organization is a key component to staying |
| it, a policy was put in place mandating that all | | | | on top of policy-and-procedure management - and |
| stops be recorded. Whether out of blatant | | | | with the right employee testing software, |
| disregard or not, two Austin officers elected not | | | | violations are often significantly reduced. It goes |
| to activate their dash cams during two separate | | | | without saying that an organization hopes its |
| field stops and were punished with suspension. | | | | employees will be at the root of very few errors |
| While installing digital cameras in the cars would | | | | during their tenure; after all, any error - grievous |
| eliminate the need for officers to activate the | | | | or not - equates to a substantial drain of |
| device and then spring into action (the perk is that | | | | resources. |
| they would run continuously and send information | | | | Broken Protocol - Heavy Fines |
| back to HQ in real time), it would be a dizzying | | | | What makes policy management so incredibly |
| task to carry out, not to mention the $8 million | | | | important to any organization are the fines that |
| price tag to update the entire fleet of cars. Until | | | | occur when and if protocol is broken. Consider |
| that time, proper policy management coupled with | | | | what happens when a policy is changed. Say a |
| routine training and retention testing will have to | | | | company has 3,000 employees. A lot of work - |
| be the primary solution. | | | | not to mention time - is required to print 3,000 |
| Cover Your Bases with the Right Employee | | | | copies and then verify that everyone has signed |
| Testing Software | | | | their copies. The job is far from over - someone |
| Investing in the right kind of training and testing | | | | will need to file all signed copies into alphabetical |
| tools often nips most policy management | | | | folders. With an online policy management and |
| problems in the bud. Technology helps | | | | training software system, the time spent on |
| organizations eliminate potential mishaps | | | | these tasks would be minimal, and multiple |
| single-handedly and prevent the pitfalls of human | | | | resources would be saved. |
| error. Unfortunately, most organizations gloss | | | | When a policy is violated, however, internal affairs |
| over the usefulness factor when it comes to | | | | must investigate regardless. The organization in |
| employee testing software, opting instead for | | | | question is also called on to prove that the |
| email or a cumbersome paper process. | | | | employee saw, read, and was trained on the |
| In terms of learning and internalizing an | | | | procedure. In many cases, the liability falls back on |
| organization's policies and procedures, employees | | | | the department, and extreme violations can result |
| should be able to document that they have read, | | | | in a significant lawsuit, costing millions. The beauty |
| taken, and understood within a few clicks of the | | | | of an online policy management and employee |
| mouse. | | | | testing software system is that it saves time and |
| A training module - part of any comprehensive | | | | money both immediately and in the long run. As |
| employee testing software platform - is vital for | | | | there's no way to tell when a lawsuit may occur, |
| continuing education on a variety of departmental | | | | prepare your employees, department, and |
| and company-wide specifics, and ensures | | | | organization for the future and equip them with |
| employees are up-to-date on the training and | | | | the right on-the-job tool -- a web-based |
| certification required for their job. Learning doesn't | | | | policy-and-procedure-management system that |
| just come through repetitive, bland paper tests - | | | | makes everyone's jobs that much easier. |