Why encourage learning at work?
The biggest cost to a business is usually staffing. Adult learning is one of the tools you can use to help develop your staff and maintain their effectiveness.
A study by the Learning and Skills Council (National Employer Skills Survey, 2004) found that employers believe that 11% of their employees are not fully competent in their current role, and 22% of employers reported skills gaps. It is imperative for business success to find ways of increasing competence. Sometimes it is not easy for employees to get the most out of training or to respond to training introduced by the employer.
Some employees have problems with communication, or writing reports, or because English is not their first language. Many employees struggle with maths or finances. Others may not appreciate the value of training for themselves or for their improved work performance. They may be disengaged from work processes, merely putting in their time, and feel that learning and training have passed them by or are not appropriate for them.
Feedback from employers during Adult Learners' Week indicates that businesses benefit from investing in learning through:
- reduced staff turnover
- reduced absenteeism
- improved internal communications
- improved learning culture at work
- improved industrial relations and staff morale
- increased employee effectiveness and improved performance
Adult Learners' Week is a great opportunity to start investing in your staff and their learning.
Learning opportunities suggest to employees they are worth developing, both as individuals and for what they deliver for the organisation. This is especially true for those individuals at lower skills levels, for whom opportunities for training and development are often not provided. Learning at work also indicates to employees that their employer values them and they are less likely to move on.