What to do if…
you realise a mandatory training deadline at work is imminent and you have not been scheduled to complete it
Short answer
Notify your supervisor and the training/HR contact today, in writing, that you are not enrolled/scheduled and need urgent access or a documented extension before the deadline.
Do not do these things
- Do not ignore the deadline or assume the system will “fix itself”.
- Do not use another person’s login, share passwords, or ask someone to complete it for you.
- Do not certify completion if you have not actually completed the training.
- Do not send a heated or accusatory message; keep it factual and time-stamped.
- Do not keep performing duties you believe require current training (especially safety-related) without flagging the risk and asking your supervisor what you should do instead.
What to do now
- Verify the requirement and deadline in the official source. Check your LMS/training portal assignments, your email/calendar (including spam), and any policy memo that lists the course and due date.
- Document what you see right now. Screenshot “not assigned”, “no sessions available”, “enrollment closed”, or access errors, and note the date/time.
- Email/message your supervisor immediately with a clear ask. Include: course name, deadline, what the system shows, and what you need (assignment, a session booking, or written extension). Ask them to confirm, in writing, what they want you to do before the deadline.
- Contact the training owner/admin in parallel. This might be HR, Learning & Development, Compliance, Safety/EHS, or your site administrator. If your workplace uses an IT/helpdesk ticket, open one and mark it time-sensitive due to a compliance deadline. Attach screenshots.
- Offer a concrete completion plan if self-paced training is possible. Example: “If you assign access today, I can complete it during my shift at [time].” Ask them to confirm the time is approved.
- If the only option is outside your normal hours, pause and get clarity first. Under federal wage-and-hour rules, training time is generally treated as paid work time unless all of these are true: it’s outside regular work hours, truly voluntary, not directly job-related, and you do no productive work while attending. Ask your supervisor/HR how they want you to schedule and record the time so you don’t accidentally create a pay/timekeeping issue while trying to fix a training issue (and note that state law or a contract/policy can be more protective).
- If training is safety-related or required for certain tasks, reduce risk immediately. Tell your supervisor if you believe you should stop specific duties until trained (for example, operating equipment, handling hazardous chemicals, certain patient/data workflows) and ask what alternate duties they want assigned.
- If you’re called into an investigatory interview and you are union-represented, use your representation right. If you reasonably believe the interview could lead to discipline, clearly request a union representative before answering questions. If you are not union-represented, ask HR whether your employer’s policy allows a support person to attend.
What can wait
- You do not need to decide right now whether to file a formal complaint about the scheduling failure.
- You do not need to write a long explanation; a short timeline plus screenshots is enough.
- You do not need to accept blame in the moment; focus on getting scheduled/assigned and getting instructions in writing.
Important reassurance
This happens often when roles change, systems fail to auto-assign training, or session capacity runs out. What protects you is acting quickly, being factual, and creating a clear written record that you tried to comply before the deadline.
Scope note
These are first steps to prevent avoidable harm (discipline, compliance risk, unsafe work) and to buy time. Next steps depend on your employer’s policy, whether the training is legally/regulator-required, and whether you are union-represented.
Important note
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can differ by state, union contract, and industry. If the situation is escalating toward discipline, consider getting support from your union (if applicable) or another appropriate workplace representative.
Additional Resources
- https://www.osha.gov/workers/employer-responsibilities
- https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/22-flsa-hours-worked
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-V/subchapter-B/part-785/subpart-C/subject-group-ECFR517a5a13c426150/section-785.27
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/785.27
- https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/weingarten-rights