What Would You Do?
WWYD. Dignity Dilemma – Mandatory Training ⚖️
In your health/care service, mandatory training sessions are regularly scheduled to keep staff updated on safeguarding, the Mental Capacity Act, infection control, and dignity in care.
However, some staff repeatedly find reasons not to attend. They swap shifts, call in sick on training days, or say they’ve “already done something similar before.” The same committed staff end up attending every time.
Management reminds the team that the training is essential for safe, dignified care. Still, the pattern continues. Some colleagues say, “It’s just training — experience on the floor matters more.” Others worry that avoiding training could eventually affect the quality of care residents receive.
What would you do?
• Do you challenge colleagues who avoid training?
• Do you raise concerns with management about fairness and accountability?
• Or do you focus on your own practice and leave others to it?
my initial response is yes to all three questions, as it really depends on the culture of the service and whether training is seen as part of my duties or something that i do in my own time. If the culture of the service is one of continuous improvement, training being seen as a key part of that journey, whether its new learning or refreshing, then i would challenge both my colleagues and raise my concerns with management. However if the culture is one of training being something that i do in my own time, [regardless of whether its mandatory or not], then i would feel a bit differently. everyone has to maintain a sound work/life balance and it is vital that i don't criticise or dismiss those who chose not to give up their life time for work. to me mandatory training means just that, it has to be done, and that case it should be seen as part of my paid work and duties, not something that i have to find time to do. the balance is also about how I learn, for some it would be the training course and then having a chance to put it into practice and for others it, would be experiential learning is the most effective. in a sound learning and respectful and dignified culture both options would be available and used together. so in short get the culture right and training and learning becomes a fundamental part of getting it right to which everyone is signed up.