12 Benefits of Training Employees in the Workplace

According to Monster.com, more than 40% of employees in India will need reskilling and upskilling in the next 5 years. But while many companies understand the importance of employee training, implementation remains a challenge.

This is often because traditional Indian educational models like college and university degrees don’t meet their needs or fit within their lifestyle. Plus, many of the training programs offered by these educational institutions are not well-aligned with the company’s and employees’ objectives.

Despite these challenges, the benefits of training employees far outweigh the challenge of designing an effective training program. From increasing employee morale to growing the company’s output, organisations that invest in their workforce are likely to reap significant rewards.

The Benefits of Employee Training

Below are 12 benefits of training employees in today’s workplace, whether you’re working remotely, in-person, or a mix of both.

1. Reduce Employee Turnover

Employee turnover can be highly disruptive–and costly. In general, it takes 50-60% of the employee’s salary to find their direct replacement. Nevertheless, it depends on the level and complexity of their position. Doing so can also take months or more. Offering employee training is a straightforward and effective way to reduce turnover. According to LinkedIn Learning, 94% of employees say they would stay at a company longer if it invested in their development.

2. Reduce Layoffs

Business priorities can change fast in today’s world. And unfortunately, that can lead to layoffs when employees’ skills no longer align with their employer’s needs. Layoffs can significantly impact morale among the employees left behind and come with the costs of severance payments and rehiring.

Oftentimes, there are ways to avoid layoffs. Upskilling and reskilling employees for new or expanded roles that meet business priorities allow companies to shift existing talent rather than start from scratch. However, it has been found that about 81% of Indian companies maintain skills inventories, which is far more than any other country.

3. Improve Employee Engagement

Employee engagement remains a moving target for most organisations, but it’s critical for company outcomes. The Economic Times reported that one in five (20%) employees in India enjoy the highest level of employee engagement.

Since LinkedIn Learning reports that employees who feel they have room to learn and grow at their companies are 3.5 times more likely to be engaged, employee training opportunities present an ideal tool for increasing both engagement and profit.

4. Gain a Recruitment Tool

Most job seekers are aware that the world of work is changing fast, and they’re looking for roles where they can grow. A Dell Technologies report found that 75% of Indian employees are keen to upskill themselves to remain competitive in the marketplace, so employee training opportunities can be a powerful recruitment tool. And since employees with access to training are more likely to be engaged, the overall public perception of the company is likely to improve, too.

5. Increase Productivity

Productivity is essential for profitability. And offering employee training is one of the most straightforward ways organisations can increase their outputs. Learning how to use new technologies or tools, ranging from scheduling apps to artificial intelligence, can significantly cut the time it takes to perform everyday tasks. The benefits of training employees on soft skills such as time management and delegation also include streamlined processes and reduced time wastage.

6. Improve Team Functionality

Most employees work in teams, yet those teams are rarely optimised for success. To succeed, teams need complementary skill sets that help them work in a cohesive, efficient way. Identifying skill gaps on teams (for instance, a lack of writing or technical skills) can impact the productivity of every member. Team training on communications skills, conflict management, and diversity and equity can also help build trust among employees and reduce time lost to misunderstandings and conflict.

7. Build a Competitive Advantage

When employees are up to date on the latest business knowledge and technology and teams possess the skills they need to succeed, they are prepared to pivot. In today’s rapidly changing environment, companies need to adapt to new challenges and customer demands. And organisations that haven’t invested in developing their employees are likely to fall behind competitors that have. Companies with the ability to quickly switch gears to provide new products or services when the market demands have a major competitive advantage.

8. Prevent and Address Skill Gaps

Skills gaps are a persistent problem for companies in India, and even more so in the wake of COVID-19. In fact, the India Skills Report found that 77% of companies either have identified skills gaps or expect to experience them within the next few years. Being able to proactively address those gaps is one of the benefits of employee training, and doing so reduces the risk that the company will either need to sink money into hiring or fall behind. That’s why over half of executives report that they prefer upskilling and reskilling as their approach to addressing skills gaps.

9. Build a Talent Pipeline

Employee turnover is a fact of life. But when employees with essential skills depart, that can leave unprepared organisations in the lurch. Organisations can prevent disruptions by using targeted training to create career paths for their employees. Ideally, employers and managers partner to develop these paths, which include clear milestones and objectives for skills acquisition and promotion. In addition to its role in succession planning, the career pathing process also increases employee engagement with the company and their roles.

10. Enhance Management

Poor management is one of the biggest drags on a company’s bottom line—according to Gallup, ineffective leaders cost the global economy over $7 billion each year. Given their impact on the company, the importance of employee training is only increased for managers. Training managers to communicate effectively, develop their employees, think strategically, and react to challenges with flexibility can drastically increase both team performance and employee satisfaction.

11. Reduce Reliance on Contractors

Many organisations rely on contractors to handle projects when the necessary skills aren’t available in-house. However, the costs of bringing in contractors can be much higher than utilising existing in-house talent. Plus, contractors generally lack institutional knowledge. Most organisations have employees with extra bandwidth, so cross-training those employees to fill skills gaps can help leaders shift talent to needed areas, maximise individual productivity, and reduce costs.

12. Increase Employees’ Sense of Security

Employees are increasing—and justifiably—concerned about the longevity of their skills in a fast-changing world. In fact, almost half of workers fear they will lose their jobs in the next five years because they lack up-to-date skills. Employer-provided training opportunities can help these workers build on existing skills or pivot to an entirely new role, a win-win for both the organisation and the individual employee. And when employees believe they have a future at the organisation, they are much more likely to be happy and plan to stay for the longer term.

Between inflation, the Great Resignation, and major global supply chain disruptions, companies have plenty of issues to tackle. Nevertheless, it’s essential to not overlook the importance of employee training amid the crush of competing priorities. Organisations that understand why employee training is important and build effective training programmes will not only address today’s challenges, but also those of tomorrow.

Emeritus India offers a range of certificate courses which can help you upskill and drive transformational change.