Intervention Method: Delay

The Delay method focuses on what to do after witnessing harm or harassment. It’s about showing empathy, checking in, and helping the person who was targeted process their experience safely. This microlesson teaches employees how to provide thoughtful follow-up support—listening, validating feelings, and offering resources—so colleagues feel seen, heard, and not alone after an incident occurs.

Microlesson Description

This lesson reviews the upstander intervention technique, "Delay". We can help reduce trauma or distress by speaking to the victim after an instance of harmful behavior is directed at them.

Key Concepts

• Learn how to follow up and support someone after witnessing harm or harassment
• Understand the six key steps of the Delay method to provide effective follow-up
• Recognize when and how to offer support so the person feels seen, heard, and safe

This microlesson is part of Emtrain’s Intervention Methods microlesson series—five short, actionable lessons that teach employees how to recognize harm and respond constructively. These lessons are designed to make upstander intervention a workplace skill everyone can practice with confidence.

Each method provides a distinct approach for real-life application:

• Direct: Speak up respectfully to stop harm or start accountability conversations.
• Distract: Defuse tension and redirect attention to interrupt harm safely.
• Delegate: Enlist others—like managers or HR—to step in when direct action isn’t safe.
• Document: Record and report incidents accurately to support transparency and fairness.
• Delay: Offer empathy and follow-up support to colleagues who’ve been targeted.

Together, these microlessons help employees move from bystanders to upstanders—building a culture where everyone takes responsibility for respect, inclusion, and psychological safety.

Microlesson Features

• Employee sentiment pulsing questions that provide leaders with insights into their workforce's core cultural competencies
• Emtrain's Expert Answers tool, enabling employeees to submit anonymous questions about sensitive issues.

• Rich, contemporary video scences illustrating key concepts through realistic scenarios
• A data driven, skill-based approach to eLearning that establishes a shared language for employees.

Preview Microlesson