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When it comes to running a business, the concept of “workplace training” can often fall by the wayside. However, ask any small business owner or manager, and they’ll tell you that achieving success takes more than offering great products and services. Markedly, it requires a strong, skilled, and compliant workforce. Accordingly, one of the best ways to achieve that goal is through workplace training. Basically, practical and effective training not only helps employers meet legal requirements but also boosts morale, improves productivity, and strengthens overall company culture. Indeed, no matter what kind of business you are managing, the following four types of workplace training should be part of your ongoing employee development plan.
HR Compliance Training
Firstly, HR compliance workplace training should be offered to ensure employees understand the fundamental laws that govern the workplace. Training in this area protects not only the business but also the employees, as well as possible customers and visitors.
Topics to cover within HR compliance workplace training can include:
- anti-harassment and discrimination prevention,
- workplace civility,
- wrongful termination prevention, and
- cybersecurity.
Additionally, some states, cities, and municipalities may require additional training. Specific types of industries could require HR compliance training as well.
Workplace Safety Training
Secondly, workplace safety training is a crucial part of operating a business as it can protect workers and visitors from accidents and injuries. Additionally, correctly requiring such workplace training ensures compliance with standards required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). However, smaller businesses sometimes underestimate the need for formal safety training. Managers and supervisors might believe that workplace training involving safety should be limited to warehouses, factories, or construction sites. This is incorrect! In brief, every workplace has safety risks that need to be documented and addressed.
For example, an office might need focused workplace training on ergonomics or fire safety. Meanwhile, a more industrial environment may need to cover slip, trip, and fall prevention or hazardous material handling. If you have a business that is open to the public, violence prevention and emergency preparedness training may be needed.
Businesses of all sizes sometimes underestimate the need for formal safety training. Basically, some companies assume that an individual’s “common sense” in the face of an emergency will suffice. The inclusion of workplace safety training, however, moves beyond the basic concept of company training. Not only will it reduce workplace injuries, but it has been proven to lower workers’ compensation costs while increasing employee confidence.
Management & Leadership Training
Thirdly, in many instances, companies, both small and large, promote employees from within. One day, these individuals could be working the front line of your business, and the next day, be acting as a manager or supervisor with direct reports. The same can happen with a new hire who is brought in to manage but lacks the experience needed to succeed in their new role.
Even the most talented and lauded employees can struggle when promoted into management without proper training. Leadership training helps bridge that gap by giving new and existing managers the tools to lead effectively and fairly.
Key areas to cover in this type of workplace training include:
- communication skills,
- conflict resolution,
- performance management,
- employee motivation, and
- strategic decision making.
Training in this topic group should also cover how to address sensitive issues appropriately. This would include such actions as responding to complaints, documenting behavior, retaining protected information, and maintaining compliance when managing leave or accommodations.
Correctly training managers and supervisors in effective and compliant leadership tends to result in higher-performing teams, lower turnover, and stronger workplace cultures. These trained individuals can also help shape the tone of your entire organization.
Employee Development Training
Lastly, there is one aspect of workplace training that employers sometimes forget, and that’s employee development. Even though this type of workplace training is not generally associated with government agency standards, it’s crucial because it focuses on helping employees grow their skills, improve performance, and prepare for future roles.
Topics that fall under employer development training could include
- offering excellent customer service,
- the best techniques to make sales,
- technology training, and
- time management.
The skills listed above would be better suited for your front-line employees. However, when it comes to workplace training for managers and supervisors, training courses on proper communication, critical thinking, or project management might be suited for that audience.
No matter what position your employee holds, though, regular and thorough development training signals that you are fully invested in their long-term success with your business. This can be a great asset in both attracting and maintaining a successful workforce.
How to Build a Comprehensive Training Program
Now that we’ve discussed “why” it’s important to offer complete workplace training, let’s touch on the “how.” Many smaller businesses may think that they don’t have the time or the resources to conduct proper training. This may be true, but adopting a focused and straightforward approach to workplace training can still benefit the business in the long run.
For example, employers could start the process by examining the four main types of workplace training discussed in this blog post. Which of the four (HR compliance, safety, management and leadership, or employee development) do you feel your employees could benefit from right now? Which of the four should be examined next, etc.? Employers should then establish a training calendar that incorporates the company’s training goals for the foreseeable future.
All completed training should be documented and stored for compliance purposes, which helps reduce the risk of costly lawsuits, fines, or reputational damage.
Employer Takeaways
In conclusion, as touched upon earlier, workplace training strengthens every part of an organization. To assist businesses in keeping their daily operations in compliance with current labor laws, WorkWise Compliance offers many resources to help complete employee training and avoid possible fines and penalties.
Smaller entities may find it more useful to purchase individual training courses, which can be shared with company managers, supervisors, and workers to bolster their knowledge on important employment law topics. Additionally, WorkWise Compliance has introduced the WorkWise LMS which, for one price, contains over 100 training courses on various HR compliance, workplace safety, management & leadership, and employee development topics for up to 25 users. All courses can be assigned to added users with automatic record tracking and reporting built into each.
For more information about WorkWise Compliance, our training courses, or the new WorkWise LMS, please get in touch with a WorkWise Compliance specialist at [email protected] or (866) 436-6620.
