Employee training has traditionally focused on a job’s specifics—for example, a payroll specialist should be trained on how to operate the company’s payroll system and deal with staff questions, a building manager should be trained on key areas of building monitoring and maintenance, software engineers should be trained on new and improved methods for effective and secure coding, etc.
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But there are many areas of general training that companies often overlook. Some employers might assume their staff already possessed these generic skills and knowledge, while others simply may not have thought to include them. In this post, we look at a few non-job-specific areas employers should consider incorporating into their training programs.
Time Management
All employees can benefit from training on time management, and the benefits to employers that dedicate time and resources to such training can include increased efficiency and productivity.
Safety
Workplace safety issues aren’t limited to a forklift driver knocking over a row of shelves in a warehouse or a construction worker falling off a roof. Accidents can also involve chronic injuries caused by years of sitting at a desk with bad posture or poor office ergonomics. Companies that avoid safety incidents can keep employees at work more consistently and avoid some insurance and workers’ compensation issues.
Environmentalism
Training employees not to waste paper, water, electricity, and other resources can not only help save money but also boost a company’s image as a steward of its community and environment.
Customer Service
It might seem obvious that you shouldn’t be rude to a customer, but for many employees, particularly those without a traditionally customer-facing role, this may not be the case. Every employee, regardless of role, can benefit from learning some basic tenets of customer service. For those who already have a solid foundation, company-mandated customer service training can help drive home the importance of that value to the entire organization.
Ethics
Ethics training could include items with concrete legal or regulatory implications, such as antibribery laws, in addition to topics like being honest and transparent with colleagues, superiors, and subordinates. The benefit is that employees and customers generally value working for and with organizations and teams they perceive as ethical.
Although it’s clear you should train staff on their roles’ specifics, there are other nonspecific areas that may also warrant attention. Dedicating some time and resources to these areas could make the entire organization more effective, safe, professional, and efficient.