Introducing StandUP Teams?… and the Why

I am delighted to announce the launch of Forte Law’s newest project StandUP Teams?. 

StandUP Teams? provides some key tools for progressive organizations to reinforce a culture of respect at work. The package includes a customized and readable (really, actually readable) Respectful Workplace Policy; training that is co-designed with your organization to be relatable and relevant to everyone, including a Policy review and a bystander activation workshop; and guidelines for post-training initiatives to ensure follow-though.

The initial spark of StandUP Teams? was born in late 2018. We had long been offering traditional “harassment training” when a really progressive, people-focused company hired us to train their team. In developing their training, we took the opportunity to research emerging trends and turned up articles about bystander training as a best practice in respectful workplace initiatives. Empowering everyone at work to champion a culture of respect with a “see something, say something” approach resonated with our team immediately. We developed and delivered our first iteration of what now has become StandUP Teams? in January 2019. Since that time, we have continued to work with clients on respectful workplace matters, delivered bystander training, and written frequently about bystander training to raise awareness of its benefits. 

As our team at Forte Law has grown and we have defined our team’s values, we kept coming back to this: how can we make the greatest positive impact on the world? We help individual workers, businesses and unions every day, but we realized that bystander training is a way to reach large groups of people and empower each of them to be champions of workplace respect.

Bystander training is a way to reach large groups of people and empower each of them to be champions of workplace respect.

The #metoo movement, and our own experiences as employment lawyers dealing reactively with workplace sexual harassment cases and investigations made it clear that a proactive approach was needed. The clincher though, to the launch of StandUp Teams? now, is today’s widespread, much-needed anti-racism movement. When we brainstormed as a team on our anti-racism action plan, we decided to prioritize rolling out bystander training through StandUP Teams? as a way to effect positive change.

Are you ready to state definitively that your corporate culture must be anti-racist, free from sexual harassment, and a place of safety and respect for all? Follow StandUP Teams? on LinkedIn, check out our new StandUP Teams? website or email us at [email protected].