Both off the job and on the job training has been used in businesses for decades. Applicable in a wide range of industries, there are many benefits that come with implementing it within your company – however, there are also some negatives that are associated with employee training that you should keep an eye out for.

If you’re uncertain as to whether it’s the right move for your business, here are the top pros and cons of employee training days – to help make the decision a little easier.

Let’s start with the pros:

#1: It Can Help to Reduce Employee Turnover

Once an employee is trained, they will start to feel more confident in their role. This confidence will help to increase their determination and interest in their job – translating into a lower employee turnover rate. Of course, this will also be helped by competitive benefits and pay, but it’s a step in the right direction. It showcases that you want to assist them in improving their skills.

#2: It Improves the Quality of Work

Through training staff, you’ll start to notice an improvement in the quality of work they produce. As it directly teaches them new skills, whilst broadening their understanding of the role, it will ensure that they produce better results. Whether the training teaches them new skills or enhances skills that are already present, it’s an advantage that shouldn’t be ignored.

#3: Enhanced Motivation

As aforementioned, by implementing training days, your staff will feel appreciated and valued – leading to a greater level of motivation within the workplace. As you’re encouraging personal development, they will want to carry out each task to the best of their ability.

#4: An Increase in Productivity

If you want to see an increase in productivity, then consider employees on the job training. Not only will this help to introduce new employees to the best practices, but it helps other employees to improve their productivity levels. No matter what the course, it will undeniably make your staff be more efficient within their roles.

Now, onto the cons:

#1: It Causes Disturbances

Although training is a must for new employees, it can cause disturbances within the workplace if you decide to offer it to other staff members. Not only will it limit the amount of work that’s done during that week, but it could lead to less concentration within the team overall – as those who are usually there to supervise are busy with training. This will, of course, depend on the type of training that you offer.

#2: Poor Employee Training = Poor Results

If you opt for training, and it’s delivered at a poor quality, not only will it waste time but it will also mean that you’ll have to book in future sessions – costing the company more in the long term. When looking at training courses, it’s therefore important that you look at testimonials that other businesses have given about that company.

#3: It Can Be Expensive

Although some in-house training is free, if you require advanced training it can be expensive. By hiring an external training provider to come to your office, you’ll be subject to high costs. Now, if you’re operating a long-established business, you might have the budget for this. But if you’re a startup or lack the funds, this extra cost might not be welcomed.

#4: People Learn Differently

This is something that should be considered from the get-go. Some might learn better with visuals, others in small groups, etc. If the trainer isn’t able to recognise the needs of the employees (or you choose the wrong type of training for them), it might result in certain staff members finding the training unhelpful or that their requirements weren’t met.

Final Thoughts

Overall it’s clear to see that there are both notable pros and cons of introducing employee training into your workplace. The decision as to whether it’s right for your business is, of course, up to you – as you’ll want to factor in the cost, timescale, which employees realistically need it, etc.

Although the cons that come with implementing it are key, the benefits arguably outweigh the negatives. If you want your business to grow and become more successful over time, it’s worth looking into training as a way of increasing motivation, morale and the quality of work. Three advantages that along with a lower employee turnover shouldn’t be taken for granted, they are perhaps the key reasons why so many businesses around the world opt for it.