Training 

The Importance of Training 

Training is the process in which employees are provided with additional skills, knowledge and qualifications. Businesses train and develop their employees for a number of reasons, including motivation, retention and productivity. 

Advantages 

• Keeps workers up to date – it helps to adapt to changes that might affect the job such as new healthy and safety rules, new technology, new legislation. 
• Improving labour flexibility 
• Well-trained workers will make less mistakes 

Disadvantages 

• Certain skills may take time to train and build 
• May be expensive to pay for staff training 
• Staff may be out of the workplace while being trained; additional cost of replacing worker 

Training in Health and Safety

In many companies the workplace can be a dangerous environment. Because of the potential danger, governments aim to protect workers with legislation that forces businesses to provide a safe and healthy workplace. For example: 

• using and maintaining safety equipment and protective clothing. 
• The dangers from hazardous substances such as acids. 
• The protection of violence, bullying, threats and stress. 

Types of training 

There are three main types of training carried out in the workplace. 

• Induction 
• On-the-job 
• Off-the-job 

Induction Training 

Induction training is offered to new employees when they join an organisation and usually includes: 

• a tour of the premises/workplace 
• health and safety information/training 
• specific training on any duties/skills required to do the job 
• company policies such as holiday entitlement and absence procedures 
• introduction to colleagues/senior staff

Advantages : 

Employees will settle quickly into the Job 

Employees will be made aware of important health and safety issues before starting the job 

On-the-job training 

On-the-job training is training that is undertaken in your place of work. Businesses can carry out several different types of on-the-job training: 

• Watching another worker 
• Mentoring- is where a trainee is paired with an experienced member of staff for a given period. 
• Job Rotation – involves a new recruit spending a period of time in several different departments at a business. 

On-the-job training has a number of benefits. It is a relatively cheap form of training as there are no travel costs and training is done by another employee, not an expensive external trainer. On-the-job training also allows a business to reduce costs by offering e-learning, a form of on the job training which is done via a computer. This can be done by large numbers of employees at the same time. Finally, on-the-job training can be tailored to the needs of the company, such as using the specific machinery that the company uses. 

However, on-the-job training has a number of disadvantages. As the training is usually provided by other employees, it may mean that more people are unavailable to work as they are both providing and receiving training. It is also unlikely to bring new ideas and skills into the business. 

Off-the-job training 

Off-the-job training is training that is undertaken outside the place of work. This training can take place at many locations such as colleges or training centres. 

Off-the-job training can bring new ideas into a business. As off-the-job training is expensive, employees who receive it may feel more valued by the company and therefore more motivated and loyal. In addition, the trainer is more likely to provide high quality training, as they will be a skilled expert in this specific area. 

Disadvantages of off-the-job training include that it is expensive and there is a risk that the newly trained employee will leave the business. In addition to this, the training might not be tailored to the business and the employee is spending time away from the workplace to complete the training.