Diversity Inc.
To be a successful diversity trainer, you need the heart of an advocate. Educating others about diversity and building a positive work environment is Lynn Lieber’s mission.
In 1999, Lieber founded Workplace Answers, Inc. to provide engaging, high-quality employee education. Workplace Answers’ online training courses promote diversity and help prevent unlawful harassment and discrimination.
Before starting Workplace Answers, Lieber was a partner in a top employment law firm, where she specialized in developing and conducting employee training and resolving workplace disputes. The educational component really sparked her passion. “I saw a need in the workplace for effective, consistent, organization-wide programs, and I was inspired to partner with employers to nurture positive, inclusive work cultures.”
Her favorite part of her job now is "the satisfaction I get from educating employees around the globe every day. Through our Web-based courses, we promote healthier, more comfortable, legally compliant workplaces."
Lieber believes that today’s work environment reflects society’s shifting tensions about religion, politics, race and sexuality. “We are now seeing the ‘second generation’ of harassment and discrimination issues, such as individuals of the same race making racially-related comments," Lieber explains. "Such conduct might be acceptable, even positive, outside the workplace. However, in a place of work, it can be offensive and inappropriate.”
Workplace Answers’ courses are designed to help employers prevent liability, but they serve a broader purpose: to affect a cultural change by promoting an atmosphere of inclusiveness and respect. This goal is accomplished through highly interactive training programs that challenge users to engage in critical thinking. "Our courses are scenario-based, which facilitates active learning." Lieber says. "We deal with relevant, edgy topics that are often the subject of workplace conversations, such as movies dealing with homosexuality and reality TV shows that deal with dating and plastic surgery."
Lieber believes personalized online diversity training is superior to traditional classroom education. "Online training provides a non-threatening learning environment. It is inclusive, and an individual can learn at his or her own pace. Additionally, Workplace Answers develops its courses to mirror the surroundings of each employee," with courses and scenarios set in banks, universities, retail environments, even on factory floors.