Training Employees
Training employees in an ongoing part of any business. When new workers are hired they have to be taught the ins and outs of the job, but in many situations long term employees also have to take part in continuous training. Employers may wish to train their employees to take on more responsibilities so they can fill in when other workers are away or so they can be promoted to a new position. Ongoing training is also necessary to keep up with changes in technology and equipment. Most state and provincial governments require employees to have a certain level of training in areas such as health and safety precautions. The law may also require employers to provide training or information about local legislation regarding employee rights, sexual harassment, and discrimination.
Employers are usually responsible for choosing the training methods, although in larger businesses this job may fall to an assistant manager or supervisor, and in even larger corporations there is often an entire human resources department that manages training activities. Most franchise companies have a standard employee training program that must be followed, but independent business managers will need to come up with their own training plans.
The process of selecting employee training should involve three crucial steps. The first is to access what kind of training employees need. For this you can use your own observations, as well as the input of employees and customers. Next investigate the various methods available for this kind of training and decide which will be the most effective and cost efficient. Finally, be sure to set-up a form of evaluation to determine if the training was a success. Evaluation methods will vary depending on your business, but can include customer surveys or a study of product output before and after the training.
Employee training can be divided into two broad categories; on the job training and off the job training. With on the job training workers don't miss any work time and you don't have to replace them while they're training. Forms of on the job training include apprenticeships, job rotation, coaching, internships and orientations. Some new skills may be unsafe or unsuitable for hands on training and workers will have take time a way from work to train. Off the job training can include attending classes on campus or online through a college, university, or technical school or taking part in a weekend seminar or lecture. Off the job training may also involve watching videos, taking part in laboratory or simulation exercises, examining case studies or participating in role playing activities.
A number of independent companies that design training programs tailored to meet your specific needs can be found online or in your yellow pages. Many companies provide pre-packaged programs that come with instructions a manager can follow to deliver the training whenever it's necessary. Teaching tools such as videos, Power Point demonstrations, or employee workbooks are also included in the package. Training materials are also sold independently by various online stores and sometimes even through the government's Employment Standards Department. If you don't want to teach the training yourself, you can find training companies that provide an instructor who will train your staff at the job site or in an off-site location.