A SCOTS online legal platform is debuting its ‘First Aider’ training to tackle discrimination at work.
Valla is launching Discrimination First Aider training – the UK’s first product designed to help people become “first responders” when they see or hear about racism, sexism, or other discrimination at work.
Edinburgh-based Valla is an online legal platform that helps workers to resolve employment issues by representing themselves.
After conducting hundreds of interviews for their DIY legal platform, Valla’s founders Danae Shell and Kate Ho realised that people often don’t fight workplace discrimination because they don’t have anyone to turn to in the few days after an incident happens.
Inspired by the Mental Health First Aid programmes, they created Discrimination First Aid to help people become “first responders” and support their colleagues during an incredibly difficult time.
According to data cited from the Trades Union Congress (TUC), over half of women in the UK have experienced sexual harassment while at work.
Furthermore, it reports that 70% of Black and Asian people have experienced racial harassment at work.
Despite efforts to tackle these issues, CIPHR reports that discrimination cases have continued to increase in the last five years.
Danae Shell, co-founder and CEO of Valla says: “I know from experience what it feels like to hear about shocking behaviour at work and not know how to help.
“We’ve created this training for everyone who has ever seen something go wrong at work and has felt helpless to stop it.”
The course, costing £39 for individuals and £99 for businesses, trains first aiders in the basics of equality law, how to spot issues as they arise and how to support someone going through workplace discrimination.
As “first responders,” they can then help their colleagues access support and take action.
