What is Employee Training?

Employee training vs development: What’s the difference?

Even though the terms ‘training’ and ‘development’ are used interchangeably, distinguishing between them is crucial. The difference is primarily based on the scope of their applications. Typically, short-term, employee training aims to enhance particular abilities, ensuring that employees are equipped to meet organizational needs and adapt to new tools and processes.

On the other hand, employee development is broader and oriented toward long-term growth. It involves developing various skills, knowledge, and behaviors that prepare employees for future roles and career advancement.

This dual approach ensures employees meet current demands and are prepared for future challenges and opportunities.

Why is employee training important?

In the United States, approximately half of the challenges related to recruitment and retention stem from expectations surrounding career advancement. 

A 2022 SHRM study revealed that 83% of HR managers recognize the value of training in attracting and retaining talent. Furthermore, the Association of Talent Development (ATD) research shows that companies investing in employee training programs see a 218% higher income per employee than those without. This means that the company is generating more revenue. 

It is important to note that employee training goes beyond simply delegating tasks or easing the workload for management. A well-designed and distinctive training and development program empowers employees, fosters a sense of ownership, and provides a clear vision for their future within the organization.

Types of employee training

Employee training and development are an integral part of talent management strategy. From onboarding to leadership development, the following training methods cater to different needs, ensuring employees meet their professional challenges.

Onboarding training

The onboarding training is meant to familiarize the new hire with the company culture and the basics of their job. It is a foundational step, ensuring new employees understand what is expected of them. Read our blog on the top 5 best practices for employee onboarding that you can implement in your organization. 

Technical or Skill-based training

Technical training teaches employees to use tools or technology to improve productivity and efficiency. For instance, a software developer might receive training to learn a new programming language, or a salesperson might learn how to use a new customer relationship management (CRM) software.

Soft skills training

Communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence are vital for workplace success. Training in these areas helps employees enhance their ability to communicate clearly, listen actively,  and collaborate with teammates and leadership.

Product training

In product training, employees are taught about the unique propositions of a product or service the company offers. Typically given to the salespeople, customer service reps, and the product team.

Sales training

Sales training equips employees with strategies to sell the product or service offered by the company. It includes understanding customer psychology, developing strategic communication skills and learning more about the product and service to create an impact.

Leadership training

Employees transitioning into managerial roles need to enhance their leadership skills. This training initiative covers effective decision-making, team management, employee communication, strategic planning, and emotional intelligence.

eLearning and digital training

With the advancements in AI and technology, e-learning has become a popular method of delivering training resources. Digital training platforms offer the flexibility to learn at their own pace and schedule, especially for teams that are working remotely.

Safety and compliance training

This type of training is designed to educate employees on the policies, regulations, and best practices that ensure a safe and lawful workplace. Compliance training helps mitigate risks and ensures organizations adhere to legal and ethical standards.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training

DEI training aims to create an inclusive and equitable workplace by addressing unconscious biases and promoting fairness among employees.

Top employee training trends

Building and growing a high-performance workplace is no small task. Therefore, here is a list of the top employee training trends you can try to optimize employee experience: 

Personalized learning experience

Understanding that each employee learns differently is vital. Following a one-size-fits-all model leads to disengagement and underperformance, as it fails to address individual strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. To address this, IBM utilizes AI to center personalization in its employee training and development program. The platform, ‘Your Learning,’ uses employee demographic data to personalize learning content, ensuring employees acquire the right skills at the right time.

Incorporate experiential learning

Experiential learning, or learning while doing, is an educational approach that engages in real-world situations where individuals can actively participate and apply their knowledge in practical contexts. For instance, Facebook Engineering Bootcamp, introduced in 2008, is a six-week program where recruits engage in real tasks and evaluate their performance based on their learning.

Learning through gamification

Organizations use digital platforms with gamified modules like virtual badges, point systems, interactive quizzes and scenario-based tasks to boost employee motivation and performance. For example, Starbucks’ Coffee Master program immerses baristas and coffee enthusiasts in modules on coffee knowledge and brewing techniques. As they complete these modules, they earn points and unlock virtual badges, creating a sense of achievement.

Maintaining and growing DEI awareness

Boosting DEI awareness is crucial, as Gartner’s research shows that a diverse workforce enhances performance by 12%. An example of this commitment is Johnson & Johnson, which has established 12 employee resource groups to promote inclusivity by bringing together employees with shared identities and experiences. Read our blog to discover how your intranet can enhance DEI.

How to create an effective employee training program?

Creating a well-structured training program not only enhances employee skills and knowledge but also boosts employee engagement, retention and overall productivity. Here is a step-by-step guide you can follow: 

Assess training needs

Evaluate and identify the employee’s current level of competency, skills, or knowledge and compare that to the competency level required for their current role. Conduct a training needs assessment to ensure that employee development plans are targeted, relevant, and aligned with organizational goals.

Set clear training objectives

Identify what you want to accomplish with this training, such as: 

1. Improve employee performance 
2. Teach a new skill 
3. Bridge skills gaps 
4. Train employees in specific programs 

Keep the objectives specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) to provide direction and clarity.

Develop effective training material

Develop well-prepared materials to facilitate effective employee development, making workplace training engaging and informative, which enhances knowledge retention and application. This includes manuals, PowerPoint decks for in-class projections, posters, graphics, PDF documents and more.

Invest in the right technology

Integrating the right technology enhances continuous learning for today’s learners. Let’s explore some of these technologies:

• Learning management system (LMS): With capabilities such as course creation, progress tracking, and reporting analytics, an LMS aids in identifying skill gaps and evaluating the effectiveness of training programs.
• Mobile learning apps: Facilitates employee training by providing flexibility and convenience, allowing employees to access training materials anytime and anywhere through smartphones and tablets. 
• Microlearning: Breaks down training content into small, manageable units, enhancing focus and retention. This approach is highly effective in workplace training, where time is limited.
• Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR): Ideal for simulating real-life scenarios, allowing employees to practice skills in a controlled environment without the risks associated with real-world training.
• Employee intranet: Creates a central hub for all training and development resources. Additionally, a modern intranet facilitates the dissemination of training materials, enabling a smart AI-built feature to deliver personalized search results in seconds.

Evaluate and monitor 

Ultimately, the effectiveness of the entire training program must be assessed and monitored to determine whether it successfully achieved its objectives. Utilize employee surveys to gather feedback and leverage AI-driven insights to understand how your employees reacted to the designed courses.

Benefits of employee training and development

Competitive salaries, good employee benefits and flexibility are musts in today’s job market. However, prioritizing employee training and development has some of the added advantages. Some of them have been listed below:

More engaged employees

Gallup’s latest employee engagement meta-analysis shows that companies are 17% more productive and experience 41% less absenteeism when they offer training to engaged employees. 

Additionally, companies are now opting for modern intranet software to forge personal connections and create a foundation for a meaningful employee experience.

Surveys are an excellent initial method of measuring disengagement, and if these are submitted anonymously, so much the better!

Read our blog on how to ‘use a digital workplace to motivate disengaged employees smartly.‘

Increased employee retention

Investing in employee training programs enhances employee retention rates. A LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report found that 94% of employees would stay longer at a company that invests in their career development. This reduces turnover and costs associated with recruiting and training new hires.

Reduces waste and increases profits

Well-trained employees make fewer mistakes and utilize resources efficiently, leading to financial gains. Research by LinkedIn Learning highlights a 24% higher profit margin in businesses prioritizing employee training.

Positive organizational culture

Access to personalized information in seconds gives individuals more time for meaningful contributions and excellence in their work. This improves employee’s well-being, reduces anxiety and increases confidence, resulting in a supportive workplace culture.

Better performance and customer engagement

Research from IBM suggests that well-trained employees are 10% more productive and develop stronger customer relationships. Workplace training equips employees with the skills to deliver exceptional service, enhancing customer experience and boosting revenue for the organization.

What can you do to improve employee training programs?

The importance of career development, especially for new employees, underscores the need for a robust training and development plan. 

In fact, many companies are integrating technology into their tech stack by opting for tools like employee experience platforms or intranets to centralize training resources, facilitate communication and promote collaboration among team members. 

Bay Federal Credit Union’s President and CEO, Carrie L. Birkhofer, said, “By having an intranet that offers robust search capabilities, a user-friendly interface and the ability to keep content fresh and engaging, we give our team members the tools and resources they need to work more effectively and efficiently.”  Read the case study of how Bay Federal Credit Union created a collaborative employee intranet.

Create a centralized digital workplace

To enhance the efficiency and productivity of your employees, create a centralized digital work hub that contains important documents, policies, and training materials, making it easy for your employees to access the information they need to succeed.

Foster knowledge sharing

An intranet serves as a collaborative platform where employees can share ideas and expertise. It promotes knowledge sharing and teamwork through features like mentorship programs, wikis, document libraries, and shared workspaces.

Personalize and analyze content

Encourage employees to interact with content in a more meaningful and individualized way. Use your intranet to personalize and find stale content, keep popular content visible, and weed out training resources that employees don’t want or need.  

Use AI-empowered search

Getting relevant information at the right time and to the right person is vital. Having an AI-powered smart feature that can screen and filter appropriate content from knowledge bases reduces frustration and improves productivity.

Learn how your employees feel

Actively listen to your employees by gathering insights from assessment tools and surveys, feedback forms, and one-on-one conversations. Use the intranet to take data-driven action to keep morale high and retain talent.

Improve internal communication

Providing a centralized place for everyone to find people, access knowledge and log into connected apps creates a one-stop communication shop. This transparency in internal communications promotes clarity and shared understanding in workplace training initiatives.

Publicly reward and recognize employees

Use your intranet to recognize and reward employees who complete training programs or demonstrate skill improvement to ensure visibility across the organization. This will also encourage others as well. Check out our blog on 16 strategies and examples of employee recognition programs to learn more. 

Putting it all together: How Simpplr can help

Creating a culture of training and development ensures employees are constantly learning and motivated to handle challenges in the future. Whether you view it as an investment or a necessity, Simpplr can help you foster a learning culture. 

Simpplr is the #1 employee intranet platform that helps employees work more efficiently in one place with less friction and frustration. With a centralized repository, it allows employees to have access to various types of content. Offers intuitive user engagement analytics to uncover hidden employee sentiments and emotions to help leaders understand employee emotions and recommend for them to take action. Additionally, easy app integration into your EX tech stack eliminates the cost of additional point solutions. And most importantly, it’s secure.

Ready to see these features in action? Watch a 5-minute quick demo to understand how Simpplr can transform your workplace for your employees to flourish.