Training and Development Notes

Training, Coaching, Teaching, Knowledge Development, Learn Experience, Skills

Learning Objectives

• Understand the importance of training to a business and its workers.
• Understand the different types of training and their main purpose: induction, on-the-job, and off-the-job training.
• Understand the role of training in compliance with health and safety laws.
• Understand the benefits and limitations of training.

Starter Activity

• Write down 5 reasons as to why training takes place (5 minutes).

The Importance of Training

• Training increases knowledge and skills, enabling workers to perform jobs more effectively.
• It allows workers to acquire new skills, improve existing ones, perform better, increase productivity, and become better leaders.
• Improves motivation, leading to increased productivity.
• Allows new recruits to work safely in a new environment.
• Training can be expensive, which may discourage investment, result in loss of productivity, and potentially decrease competitiveness. It can also endanger workers if neglected.

Induction Training

• Conducted when people start a new job.
• Allows people to settle and become comfortable in new surroundings.
• Without induction, people may feel anxious and lose productivity.
• Changes between businesses.

Elements of Induction Training:

• A complete tour of the workplace.
• Company history, aims, and objectives.
• Health & Safety training.
• Company policies such as dress code, disciplinary procedures, and holidays.
• Introduction to senior staff.
• Introduction to job and direct work colleagues.

On-the-Job Training

• Training in the workplace while performing the job.
• Methods include:
  • Watching another worker (shadowing), though the quality of training may vary.
  • Mentoring: a trainee is paired with an experienced staff member for advice and guidance under indirect supervision.
  • Job rotation: new recruits spend time in several departments to gain broad knowledge of how the business works, improving worker flexibility.

On-the-Job Training: Advantages and Disadvantages

• Advantages:
  • Output is being produced during training.
  • Relevant because trainees learn by doing the job.
  • Cheaper than other forms of training.
  • Can be easy to organize.
• Disadvantages:
  • Output may be lost if workers make mistakes or through time diverted to showing new recruits how to do things.
  • May be stressful for the worker, particularly if working with others.
  • Staff may get frustrated if they are ‘unpaid’ teachers.
  • Could be a danger to others (e.g., surgeon or train driver).

Off-the-Job Training

• Away from the normal work area (e.g., workers going to college one day a week, managers traveling overseas).
• Advantages:
  • Output is not affected if mistakes are made.
  • Learning cannot be distracted by work.
  • Customers and others are not put at risk.
• Disadvantages:
  • No output, employees do not contribute to work during training.
  • Can be expensive if provided by specialists.
  • Training hours could take place outside work hours.
  • Some aspects of work cannot be taught off-the-job.
  • It may take time to organize.

Training in Health and Safety

• Workplaces can be dangerous environments.
• Governments aim to protect workers with legislation, forcing businesses to provide a healthy and safe workplace.
• Employees will learn about:
  • Using and maintaining safety equipment and protective clothing.
  • The importance of a hygienic environment (e.g., food production).
  • Dangers of hazardous substances.
  • Protection from violence, bullying, threats, and stress.

Health and Safety Policies

• Businesses may be required to provide a written statement of their H&S policies and make workers aware of it.
• Will have to provide training, information, instruction, and supervision.
• H&S inspectors have the right to enter any premises to ensure measures are in place and being adhered to.

The Benefits of Training

• The main reason for training is to provide workers with the skills and knowledge needed to do their job effectively, increasing productivity.
• Other reasons include:
  • Keeping workers up to date with new H&S procedures, new technology, changes after a takeover, new working practices, or new legislation.
  • Improving labor flexibility with a multi-skilled workforce.
  • Improving job satisfaction and motivation; workers feel more secure if they have been trained to do their job effectively.
  • Creating new jobs in the business owing to expansion, new products, or technology.
  • Providing training for promotion, enabling staff to handle different duties and new responsibilities.

Limitations of Training

• Training can be very expensive, particularly when specialists are needed.
• Some argue that practical experience is the best way to learn, and simulations are insufficient.
• Loss of output occurs when workers are involved with off-the-job training or when mistakes happen during on-the-job training.
• Businesses may get frustrated when employees leave and join a rival company after the business has invested in their training.

Plenary Questions

1. Which of the following is a benefit of on-the-job training?
   • C. Its cheaper than most other types of training
2. Which of the following is an example of on-the-job training?
   • A. Mentoring
3. Which of the following is a benefit of training?
   • C. Workers skills can be updated
4. An induction course may be used in which situation?
   • D. Introduce works to company policies and regulations