Benefits of ongoing employee education

Employee training is a key component of a successful organization but is often a consideration to cut when financial times get tough. In fact, employee training programs are proven to benefit both employees and employers!  If you’re curious to learn more about the benefits of employee training, and where to start if your company is new to the process, read on!  

What are the benefits of employee training? 

Higher productivity levels. When employees learn new skills, they become better at their jobs, so productivity naturally increases. In addition, when your team is more productive and effective, you have the time to focus on more strategic tasks.

Increased communication and teamwork. Employees who know how to communicate effectively with one another can work together more efficiently. 

Less employee turnover. Employee training lowers turnover because employees know they are valued and appreciated for what they do, which makes them less likely to leave. Plus, knowing they will have opportunities to continually improve is another reason for them to stick around. 

Increased job satisfaction. It’s simple: when a company invests in training them, employees feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves.  In turn, by feeling more satisfied with their role in the organization, they’re usually more motivated to do a better job!

How often should employees receive training? 

 Training programs vary from one organization to another, depending on the size of the company, the number of employees, and the complexity of the job. Some organizations offer formal training courses for all new hires while others provide informal training through mentoring. For many companies, however, employees need continuous training to keep up with new technologies, skills, and processes. At a minimum, employees should be trained at least once per year to learn skills and regain familiarity with company policies and procedures. 

What kind of employee training has the most impact? 

Employee training has the greatest impact when it focuses on improving skills and knowledge rather than simply teaching new behaviors. Training should be designed to help employees perform better at their jobs, rather than just teach them how to do something different.  Ideally, employee training programs should include both formal classes and informal learning opportunities such as mentoring and coaching.

Where should I look for employee training programs? 

Here are some areas and resources to consider, depending on your industry! 

With Curricula, you can launch your security awareness training program in less than 15 minutes. Everything is automated in Curricula, from directory integrations to employee training reminders. Select content from a variety of fresh new cyber security training stories, posters, security awareness downloads, phishing simulations, and more. Plus, you’ll crush your compliance audits with access to detailed analytics to report the progress of your entire security awareness program! 

Interested in team building? Take inspiration from Hildebrand Consulting, a financial and management consultancy that works with local governments, federal agencies, special district, and private companies to improve service levels by building on the strengths and talents of the workforce. One way in which they do so is to design team building workshops to gain consensus about important issues and work well as a team.

For technology companies, upskilling should feature subject matter experts. Benchmark IT, recruitment agency that specialize in IT careers, gives a good example in one of their informative blogs: if you have an employee with a PMP certification and want other employees to learn those skills, offer that SME an opportunity to develop their leadership skills by teaching or mentoring others. Read more about their upskilling ideas for IT companies. on their website. 

The manufacturing industry evolves quickly with the rapid technological advancements, often causing a gap in skills from the current workforce. TruPath understands the key driving factors that impact these changes and has a team of manufacturing staffing and recruitment specialists who have the right experience and industry background to ensure that skills are up to date. 

Healthcare staffing agency On Time Talent Solutions explains how life-long learning is especially vital in the healthcare industry, and webinars and online training are great options to brush up on essential skills while requiring a minimal time commitment. Even simple online training shows a prospective employer that you are willing to learn and motivated to get the skills you need for your career! They have more resources to share, so visit their website for insights. 

Companies who invest in their workforce tend to see higher levels of productivity, better customer service, and increased profits. In fact, according to research from Gallup, companies who invest in employee training see a return on investment (ROI) of over $2 million per year. This means that investing in employee training can pay off big time for your company!