The Importance of Further Training and Education for Employees

By: Stella Workman
Date: March 31st, 2011
Posted in: Human Resources | 8 Comments »

Businesses today must do everything possible to stay competitive and maintain a highly skilled, motivated staff. Despite today’s very competitive job market, employees often have little hesitation when it comes to searching for a new job if they become unhappy with their current employer. In order to keep employees satisfied, boost morale, and remain competitive, employers need to be aware of the need for further training and education of personnel.

Keeping Skills Current

One of the most important reasons to offer further training and education to employees is to ensure that work skills stay current. Keeping employees up-to-date regarding software applications, the latest thinking on logistical methods, and ways to improve efficiency are all necessary to keep businesses on a level playing field with competitors. Training is also an excellent way to retain the best employees. An unsuccessful company is one that does not keep up with trends in business, that is reluctant to change, and that has an unmotivated job staff with stagnant skills.

Training Methods

One of the most popular methods of further training is that of computer-assisted instruction. Employees complete specific modules of instruction, usually at the employee’s own pace. Accurate monitoring of the employee’s progress is possible, and the amount of time an employee spends on a specific module is adjustable, dependent upon need. Another common method of training is the workshop model, where groups of employees learn through a combination of audiovisual aids, games, role-playing, and occasionally through lecture. This method encourages employees to get to know each other and fosters cooperation between different job classifications and departments.

Offering senior staff and management the opportunity to learn about the jobs of the support staff is another frequent choice when companies are considering what types of training employees need. Often, management is unaware of what the hourly employees do on a day-to-day basis. They may believe that those employees are not critical to the company’s operation, or that they can be quickly and easily replaced. Training management-level employees to do non-management tasks encourages an understanding and appreciation among all company personnel and can give rise to new ideas and suggestions for improvements to current practices.

Cross-Training

When employees learn to do the jobs of other employees, called cross-training, the business gains security by enabling an employee to step in should another become unavailable due to illness, a leave of absence, or a promotion. The company can remain productive when the option of relocating employees as needed is available. In addition, exposing staff to different jobs and departments within the company imparts a greater knowledge of how each position is important to the big picture. Employees gain an understanding of the value of the entire staff and a greater respect for each individual’s contributions. This is a moral booster and a great way of encouraging respect among employees.

Businesses wishing to retain the best employees and stay competitive in the marketplace today must offer further training to their personnel. Employees respond positively to the opportunity to improve their job skills, which results in greater job satisfaction. A well-trained staff with good morale is an enormous asset to any company.

Stella Workman is a freelance blogger who usually writes about saving accounts over at SavingsAccount.org. Her recent review looked at where to get good savings account rates.