Steps for Training Employees
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Needs Assessment
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The first step in planning a training program for your employees is to assess the needs of the employees and the needs of the company. There may be an area in which your employees are lacking particular skills, such as communications or customer service. You may have a need to cross train certain employees so that they can fill in for each other during vacations or illnesses. There may also be an area in which your company is required to provide training for employees, such as safety- or health-related issues. There are also topics such as sexual harassment, discrimination and other legal aspects of the workplace that may need to be incorporated into your training program. Assess your company's needs in regard to legal requirements, as well as the need for job-related skills, when scheduling training.
Length and Structure
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Once you have determined the topics that need to be covered, decide on the length and structure of the training. You will need to schedule training sessions so they do not interfere with employees' work schedules, or you will need to arrange for their positions to be covered while they are in their training sessions. Training sessions can be scheduled at different times on different days to accommodate workers on shift schedules who may not be able to participate in a morning or afternoon sessions. You will also need to decide whether you will provide the training in-house or whether you will contract with a professional trainer. Review your budget to determine which option is the most cost effective and which is financially feasible. Although often more expensive, using an outside trainer is also often more effective. Employees tend to be more responsive to a third party, and the trainer will have professional experience in preparing and delivering the information.
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Followup
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The last step in providing training for your employees is to follow up. Once a training session has been completed, distribute surveys for employees to complete and submit before leaving the classroom. The survey should ask questions about the quality of the training provided, the length of each session and the value of the information provided. Use this information to determine the structure and content of future training sessions. You will also need to schedule ongoing training for these employees, either to reinforce the information provided or as a followup to their current training. For example, if employees are completing training in basic computer operations, you will need to schedule a followup course for them on intermediate computer skills.
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