Why is Staff Training Important?

Employers should try to equip their staff with the best skills and knowledge needed for their job.

A great way to do this is through staff training. This type of training creates an investable bond - resulting in all kinds of business success.

However, there are rules when it comes to staff training. If you neglect them, you could end up facing discrimination claims, tribunal hearings, and unlimited compensation fines.

In this guide, we'll look at what staff training is, why it's important, and how to manage it within your business.

What is staff training?

Staff training is a way of providing employees with the necessary skills and knowledge for their role.

Training is usually conducted by a professional trainer or mentor; but it can also be held by a senior manager (if they have the correct authority). Common training courses include health & safety, compliance, management, and onboarding training.

A business will usually offer some level of training to new employees; helping them settle into their new role. However, there are countless benefits when offering training to all staff.

Why is staff training important?

Employees will come and go within any business. But whilst they're working for you, it's always best to grow their skills and abilities.

A great way to do this is through investing in suitable training programmes. This leads to better employee performance, output, and loyalty for your company.

Sometimes, an employee might face being disciplined or dismissed because they lack the skill or capability for their role. Instead of going down this route, you should encourage developing them through training.

In the end, your company benefits from increased productivity, revenue, and overall success.

What are the benefits of training staff?

When it comes to staff training programmes, there are many things your company can benefit from. The most common ones cover areas like:

• Work performance: Through staff training, employees will perform better within their role. You'll also be able to manage other areas that may need further improvement or support.
• Employee morale: Training often leads to higher levels of morale, motivation, and satisfaction at work. That's because staff feel like valued members of the company, and so will continue to work hard.
• Personal development: Employees can develop their own personal skills, knowledge, and expertise. They'll utilise this at your company, or in future roles.
• Business standards: Ultimately, training helps maintain company standards, especially your work work process and practice. It also reduces staff turnover rates - saving on recruitment costs.

What happens if you don’t train your staff?

There are numerous downsides if you decide not to train your staff. And these go beyond employees not knowing how to do their work properly. Some of the downsides include:

• Unsafe work environment: Every employer has a legal and moral duty to create a safe work environment. Without proper training, you risk the health, safety, and welfare of staff and non-employees (like customers, clients, and the public).
• Competitive edge: Businesses gain an edge over rivals when they invest in new training technology, equipment, or development opportunities.
• Unsatisfied staff: Without training, employees may feel unhappy and dissatisfied at work. It's hard to manage this attitude; and could lead to higher absenteeism and termination.
• Business losses: A well-trained team is the foundation of every business. Without them, you may end up losing talented employees, investible clients, and loyal customers.

How to manage employee training in the workplace

Before you start your staff training programme, it's vital to think about what works best for your employees and business.

Think about what work skills work best with your staff. That way, you both can reap the benefit of training and development. Let's look at ways of managing employee training in the workplace:

Choose a suitable course

The first step to take is choosing a suitable course. These courses can include all kinds of work methods. It's up to the employer to decide on the effectiveness of these services.

Some of the most common training courses include:

• Safety training: This offers relevant information on performing work duties in the safest manner. Courses may include handling dangerous substances, operating machinery, and driving work vehicles.
• E-learning: This form of virtual learning uses online tools like videos, quizzes, and reading material to deliver training to staff.
• Virtual reality (VR): This uses VR so employees can prepare for work-related incidents in a safe way.
• Soft skills: This allows staff to learn skills related to interaction, communication, and cohesion at work.
• Mentoring: These courses usually include one-on-one sessions with a mentor who imparts development knowledge and advice to a junior colleague.

Keep a record of training sessions

Don't underestimate the importance of keeping records of every training session you hold.

This includes recording what the training course is, how it's assessed, and whether improvement is seen in employees or the workplace.

Recording also helps you keep on top of financial costs; especially if you're buying courses for a larger workforce.It can even act as evidence should training conflicts ever arise.

Deliver training for new workers

New workers will usually need their own kind of training compared to existing staff.

As an employer, you need to think about what kind of training should be delivered to them. You can use a training programme that involves:

• On-the-job learning.
• Mentoring services.
• In-house training.
• Individual studying.

Ensure training courses aren't discriminatory

Every employer has legal responsibilities to ensure their training courses don't discriminate against any person.

All relevant employees should have access to training. For example, it is unlawful to prevent an employee from accessing training because they have a health-related disability, or a new family commitment (like a baby).

Any evidence of unlawful discrimination can lead to hearings at an employment tribunal (ET). If claims are upheld, you could pay unlimited compensation.

Get expert advice on staff training with Peninsula

When it comes to staff training, there are so many methods you can implement. It all depends on how you want to develop and grow your workforce, as well as your overall company.

However, there are rules when it comes to staff training. If you neglect them, you could end up facing discrimination claims, tribunal hearings, and unlimited compensation fines.

Peninsula offers expert advice on staff training. Our HR team offers 24/7 HR employment advice which is available 365 days a year.

Want to find out more? Get advice from one of our HR consultants. For further support, call our telephone number 0800 028 2420.