Compulsory training for companies: How to fulfill all requirements
Occupational health and safety, data protection, IT security, compliance - the list of mandatory training courses for companies is getting longer and longer. At the same time, the legal requirements for documentation and verification are increasing. This article shows you which training courses are required by law, how you can implement them in your company and save time and resources in the process.
Compulsory training for companies: The most important points at a glance
- Employers have a duty to train their employees on safety and compliance-related topics.
- The most important mandatory training courses include topics such as occupational health and safety, data protection, compliance, anti-discrimination, AI and environmental protection - the specific requirements vary depending on the industry and area of activity.
- Companies must comply with recurrence intervals, document training certificates and bear full responsibility in the event of breaches or accidents.
- Digital solutions enable efficient, scalable implementation with automatic verification management and adaptive learning for repetitions.
What is mandatory training for companies?
Compulsory training is training that employers must offer their employees due to legal regulations or company guidelines. They serve to minimize risks in the workplace, comply with legal requirements and raise employees' awareness of safety and compliance-related topics.
Participation in mandatory training is not optional for employees. Employers are responsible for ensuring that all persons concerned are trained and understand the training content. If violations or accidents occur, the company is liable - especially if training certificates are missing or incomplete.
Compulsory training, further training, instruction, training: what are the differences?
Compulsory training refers to all training courses that are mandatory due to legal or company requirements. They are aimed at specific target groups and take place at fixed intervals.
Instruction is a specific form of mandatory training that is particularly relevant in occupational health and safety. Mandatory training is usually brief and practical and takes place at the workplace and provides specific instructions for safe work processes. They are prescribed by law and require regular repetition.
Further training is voluntary and aims to expand professional or personal skills. Unlike compulsory training courses, further training courses serve individual development and do not follow any legal requirements.
training is an overarching term for learning formats that can include both compulsory and voluntary further training. Seminars take place in presence, online or as a blended learning format.
Which mandatory training courses are relevant for companies?
The range of mandatory training courses depends on the industry, company size and specific activities. Nevertheless, there are topics that affect almost every company. The most important mandatory training courses for companies are
Occupational health and safety is one of the most common mandatory training courses for companies. Employers must inform their employees about hazards in the workplace and show them how they can protect themselves. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG) and DGUV Regulation 1 "Principles of Prevention" prescribe these instructions.
Typical contents of occupational safety training:
- Risk assessment and protective measures
- Handling work equipment and hazardous substances
- Use personal protective equipment correctly
- Behavior in the event of accidents and emergencies
- Fire protection and evacuation
- First aid in the workplace
→ Occupational health and safety courses at the Compliance College
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR ) obliges companies to regularly train their employees. The aim is to raise awareness of the handling of personal data and prevent data protection violations.
Key topics:
- Basics of the GDPR and operational data protection
- Rights of data subjects and obligations to provide information
- Data security and technical protection measures
- Dealing with data breaches and reporting obligations
- Recognize phishing, malware and social engineering
- Secure passwords and access management
→ Courses on data protection and IT security at the Compliance College
Compliance training conveys the legal and ethical standards that apply in day-to-day business. They help employees to act in accordance with the rules and minimize risks for the company. The Money Laundering Act (GwG) also obliges certain sectors (such as financial institutions) to provide specific training.
Important contents:
- Corruption prevention and antitrust law
- Dealing with gifts and invitations
- Recognizing and reporting conflicts of interest
- Using whistleblowing systems
- Money laundering prevention
These training courses are particularly mandatory for managers, purchasing, sales and finance departments.
→ Compliance courses at the Compliance College
The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) protects employees from discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Employers must inform their employees about these rights and raise awareness of respectful interaction.
Training content includes:
- Discrimination criteria according to AGG
- Recognize and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace
- Complaints channels and contact persons
- Promoting diversity and an inclusive corporate culture
→ Courses on the AGG and equal opportunities at the Compliance College
Many companies have an internalcode of conduct that defines ethical principles and standards of behavior. Even if this training is not always required by law, larger companies treat it as mandatory training for employees.
Typical topics:
- Corporate values and mission statement
- Dealing with business partners and customers
- Confidentiality and discretion
- Making conflicts of interest transparent
With the increasing use of AI systems in everyday working life, mandatory AI training is becoming more important. The EU AI Act stipulates that companies must train their employees in the use of AI systems.
Important contents:
- Basics and functionality of AI systems
- Risks and limits of AI applications
- Data protection and ethical aspects
- Avoid bias and discrimination through AI
- Ensure transparency and human oversight
→ Courses on AI and the EU AI Act at the Compliance College
The Infection Protection Act (IfSG) prescribes hygiene training in sectors such as catering, healthcare and food production. However, they are also becoming increasingly important in other areas - for example to prevent infectious diseases.
Central contents:
- Hygiene plans and cleaning instructions
- Handling food and protection against infection
- Occupational health care
- Pandemic prevention and protection concepts
Environmental protection training sensitizes employees to the ecological impact of their activities. With increasing regulatory requirements - such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive(CSRD) - environmental protection training is becoming relevant for more and more companies.
Typical topics:
- Environmental management systems and certifications
- Conserving resources and avoiding waste
- CO₂ reduction and climate protection
- Sustainable supply chains
- ESG criteria (Environmental, Social, Governance)
Intervals & responsibilities for mandatory training in the company
Compulsory training is not a voluntary offer, but a legal obligation. Various laws and regulations define which training courses companies must carry out and at what intervals repetition is required.
Repetition intervals at a glance
Clearly define responsibilities for mandatory training
The responsibility for providing mandatory training lies with the employer. In practice, companies often delegate this task:
- Personnel department and personnel development (organization and administration)
- Occupational safety specialist (occupational safety instructions)
- Data protection officers (data protection training)
- Compliance department (compliance and ethical standards)
Irrespective of the delegation, the management retains overall responsibility. Violations or a lack of evidence may result in fines and, in the worst case, criminal prosecution.
Who has to complete which mandatory training for companies?
Not all training is aimed at all employees. The obligation to participate depends on the position, the area of responsibility and the specific risks in the workplace.
All employees:
- Occupational health and safety
- Data protection basics
- Fire protection and emergency response
- Anti-discrimination
Executives:
- In-depth occupational safety instructions
- Compliance and corruption prevention
- Escalation management and reporting channels
- Management responsibility in data protection
Specific roles:
- IT department: IT security, data protection deepening
- Purchasing/sales: compliance, anti-corruption, antitrust law
- Production/trade: instruction on hazardous substances, machine safety
- HR: Anti-discrimination, data protection
- Health and food industry: Hygiene training courses
Selecting the right employees
A precise target group analysis saves time and resources. Think about every training course:
- Which activities and risks are relevant?
- Who has access to sensitive data or systems?
- What legal requirements apply to certain functions?
- Are there any new employees who have not yet been trained?
Organize mandatory training courses: Formats & digital solutions
You can conduct mandatory training courses in the company in different ways. The choice of format depends on the content, the target group and the operational conditions.
Common training formats:
- Face-to-face training is suitable for practical topics such as first aid, fire drills or instruction on hazardous substances. They enable a direct exchange and practical exercises, but involve all participants in terms of time.
- Compulsory training as e-learning offer maximum flexibility. Employees can learn from anywhere and at any time, and the implementation scales easily - even with large workforces. Digital formats are particularly suitable for mandatory training in data protection, compliance or IT security.
- With blended learning, you teach theoretical content online and practical exercises take place in person. This format is ideal for occupational safety training with practical elements.
Learning management systems: centralized control of training courses
An LMS (Learning Management System) is the central platform for organizing compulsory training courses, among other things. It offers you the following advantages:
- Automatic assignment of training courses to suitable target groups
- Reminders of upcoming or overdue training courses
- Tracking learning progress
- Management of training certificates
- Reporting for compliance audits
With the Haufe Akademie'sLMS , you can keep track of all training activities and fulfill your legal obligations.
Documentation & obligation to provide evidence of training courses
Employers must be able to prove that they have fulfilled their training obligations. Training certificates should contain the following information:
- Date and duration of the training
- Training topic and content
- Name of the participating person
- Name of the person or organization carrying out the work
- Confirmation of participation (e.g. signature or digital signature)
You must keep this evidence for at least the duration of legal limitation periods - in many cases three to ten years.
Digital learning platforms create these certificates automatically and store them in an audit-proof manner. This saves administrative effort and protects against gaps in the documentation.
Adaptive learning: repeat more efficiently
Repetition training costs time - especially when employees already have a good command of the content. Adaptive learning adapts to the individual level of knowledge and significantly reduces the time required.
This is how it works:
The system first tests existing knowledge. Employees who already have good knowledge only go through the areas where there are gaps in their knowledge. This saves time and increases motivation - because nobody has to repeat familiar content.
The advantage is particularly evident in the case of annually recurring mandatory training courses such as data protection or occupational health and safety: they can be carried out more quickly without compromising on quality.
How to keep your training courses up-to-date & practical
Compulsory training courses lose their value if the content is outdated or impractical. Companies should regularly check whether their training courses still meet current requirements:
- Incorporate legal changes promptly (e.g. new GDPR requirements)
- Review and adapt training content annually
- Obtain and consider feedback from participants
- Use external expertise to ensure professional quality
Increase practical relevance
Abstract theory rarely leads to changes in behavior. Instead, focus on:
- Specific case studies from everyday working life
- Interactive elements such as quizzes or simulations
- Video formats instead of text-only lessons
- Short learning units(microlearning) that can be flexibly integrated into everyday working life
Avoid typical sources of error
Even high-quality training courses will fail to make an impact if you do not observe a few basic design principles:
- Training courses that are too long: Keep learning units short and focused (10 to 15 minutes per module).
- Lack of relevance: Show specifically why the topic is important for the target group.
- Unclear language: Avoid technical jargon and explain unfamiliar terms clearly.
- No success control: Integrate tests or knowledge queries to measure learning success.
Haufe Akademie: Your partner for digital mandatory training
Haufe Akademie supports you in implementing mandatory training courses in a legally compliant, efficient and practical manner. With our digital solutions, you can establish a scalable learning infrastructure that covers all requirements.
Compliance CollegeReady-to-use learning content on occupational health and safety, data protection, IT security, anti-discrimination and other compliance topics. Adaptive learning paths significantly reduce the time required for repetition training.
Sustainability College: Provides practical knowledge on environmental, social and economic sustainability topics - ideal for environmental protection training and ESG requirements.
Learning Management System LMS)Central platform for the organization, implementation and documentation of all mandatory training courses - including automatic assignment, reminders and audit-proof record keeping.
Our solutions can be seamlessly integrated into existing systems and offer detailed reporting for audits and proof of compliance. You benefit from decades of experience in personnel development and up-to-date content that promptly reflects legal changes.
FAQ
Which training courses are mandatory?
The mandatory training courses depend on the sector, company size and area of activity. The most common mandatory training courses for companies include occupational health and safety, data protection, fire safety, first aid and anti-discrimination. Depending on the business area, compliance, IT security or hygiene may also be included. Check the legal requirements relevant to your company.
Is health and safety training mandatory?
Yes, occupational health and safety training is required by law. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG) and DGUV Regulation 1 oblige employers to provide instruction on hazards in the workplace - before starting work and at least once a year thereafter. Additional training is required in the event of changes to work processes or after accidents.
Is an instruction an instruction?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but refer to different formats. Instruction is mandatory training on hazards and protective measures under occupational health and safety law. Instruction refers to specific legal requirements, such as infection protection instruction in accordance with Section 43 IfSG for employees in the food sector. Both are mandatory and must be documented.
Can I refuse training?
No, employees cannot refuse to take part in mandatory training. Attendance is part of their contractual obligations. In the event of refusal, the employer can take measures under employment law - from warnings to dismissal. In addition, employees are not allowed to carry out certain activities without the required training.
You might also be interested in
