The Importance of Training & Educating Employees

Employee training, development and education are important for a number of reasons, including retaining talent, improving skills and increasing job satisfaction. Training and education can range from new hire orientation to workplace safety seminars. While some employers consider training or educational opportunities, many employers believe training is a non-negotiable condition of employment.

On-boarding and Orientation

New-hire orientation and on-boarding ensure employees get off to a good start, beginning from the first day on the job. Providing information about workplace policies, procedures and organizational philosophy is an important step in building a solid working relationship. Training for new employees is also efficient and cost-effective. Absent orientation or on-boarding training, employees are left with few options to learn about the company quickly and how to meet your expectations. You can save the time and expense of responding to repeated questions about routine work policies with mandatory training for new hires and an accompanying employee handbook.

Job Skills Training

A number of occupational groups require skill sets and technical qualifications employees can gain through on-the-job training. Employees and employers alike benefit from job skills training. Training to improve employee skills enhances productivity and performance. Performance measurements are based, in part, on the employee's level of skill -- training your employees results in tremendous return on investment and the chance for organizational success. In exchange, employees who have the necessary skills to perform their jobs well are usually the ones with higher morale and job satisfaction.

Professional Development

Employee training and education helps identify employees with the aptitude for more responsible roles within your organization. Training also prepares career-track employees for promotions and professional development opportunities. Succession planning is an essential component of long-range planning, therefore, training and educating your employees figures prominently into your organization's future goals. Professional development also motivates employees at every career stage. Regardless if employees who participate in professional development opportunities stay with the company for years and years, the fact that you've invested in promising leaders speaks volumes about your business and its philosophy.

Workplace Safety

Employers have an obligation to provide a safe working environment, therefore, workplace safety training is critical. Safety training is also mandatory for employers who have reporting requirements pursuant to regulations enforced by the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration. Increasing numbers of workplace violence incidents demands that employers provide training for emergency evacuation and procedures for diffusing potentially dangerous situations. Supplementing workplace safety training with regular inspections and employee bulletins reinforces the importance of safety training and education.

References

• Workforce Management: Cheesecake Factory Cooks Up a Rigorous Employee Training Program
• International Association for Computer Information Systems: Employee Training
• "Forbes": Employee Training -- 'Brandable' Moments
• Dun & Bradstreet: Ten Employee Training Tips
• Texas Workforce: On-the-job and Customized Training

Resources

• The American Society for Training & Development
• Society for Human Resource Management
• National Human Resources Association
• U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Workforce Management