Aiding retention
Studies tell us that 40 percent of employees who receive poor job training leave their positions within the first year, citing the lack of skills training and development as the principal reason for moving on. Employee development and training programs help people feel invested in their jobs and in their organizations. A well-established program ensures that employees continue to feel motivated to advance their own careers within the company, as well as to advance the company’s mission, rather than turning elsewhere for new opportunities.
Attracting job seekers
An organization that has a standardized employee development plan reassures job seekers that the company is invested in their long-term success and advancement within the organization. Applicants are less likely to invest themselves in a company that doesn’t show the same commitment in return. A recent Bersin study noted, “Companies with career management programs are better able to attract and retain top talent, leading to higher employee engagement and, in turn, a positive impact on the bottom line.”
Automating manual processes
If your training requirements are modest, it may be tempting to continue to use your collection of spreadsheets to track course offerings, registrations and certification renewals, but by deploying a smart learning management solution, you can dramatically reduce the overhead involved, saving money and driving efficiency. From automatic reminders to employees and their supervisors, to enrollment tracking and training, to reimbursement request handling, through an automated approval workflow a dedicated learning management solution can generate a rapid and significant return on investment.
Promoting consistency
With formalized training, you can be certain that vital functions and tasks are taught in a consistent, precise manner, ensuring that all employees receive the same information. You can, of course, develop your own training in-house, but most organizations rely at least in part on professionally-produced training courses. Depending upon the specific training provided, the value of such consistency may vary from improved productivity to reduced liability for the company.
Streamlining compliance
Consider sexual harassment awareness training, OSHA-mandated safety training, and business ethics: it’s not just that proper training is the right thing to do – training protects your company from potentially devastating lawsuits and fines. A learning management solution helps ensure employees (and you as the employer) are in compliance with job requirements and the law. The software can track certification expirations, courses due, notifications and accreditation requirements, helping maintain strict compliance and protecting both you and your employees.
It makes financial sense
Increased revenue is a common goal of organizations, and investing in employee training to support that goal makes financial sense. For example:
The Cheesecake Factory invests an average of $2,000 annually per employee on training. The chain enjoys sales of $1,000 per square foot, almost double the restaurant industry average.
Payroll provider ADP coaches some sales associates on managing virtual teams and time management. Those that participate have an average of 7 percent growth in sales.
Motorola has found that every dollar invested in training can yield as much as a 30 percent gain in productivity within three years, which has helped them cut costs by $3 billion and increase profits by 47 percent.
For more in-depth tips on taking employee learning and development to the next level, check out our Best Practices Guide – 3 Steps to Achieve Talent Development That Drives Organizational Success.