The Complete Guide to Workplace Training: Types, Methods, and Best Practices

What is Workplace Training?

Workplace training refers to any structured program or activity that’s designed to equip employees with new knowledge and refine their existing skills and abilities. Routine training can help them perform their jobs effectively and safely by improving their competency and aligning them with organizational goals. It can take many forms, from a formal teaching session setting to online courses that teams can complete independently.

Why is Workplace Training Important?

Consistent training is one of the most effective methods to enhance employee performance and improve business outcomes. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report, teams are 23% more productive when employees receive regular development training compared to disengaged teams.

Here are some of the key benefits of workplace training:

• Increases employee retention and morale: Training programs help employees feel valued by strengthening their capabilities, reducing turnover and improving customer satisfaction.

• Enhances safety and compliance: A systematic review by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that workplace education and programs positively impact the management of workplace hazards and risks.

• Prevents injuries and accidents: A Mitti (by SafetyCulture) survey of over 2,000 frontline workers found that 64% of respondents believe workplace accidents could have been prevented with better training.

• Boost innovation: Consistent training enhances the creative thinking of employees, allowing them to think of new ideas, technologies and methodologies.

• Strengthens company culture: Effective training helps align employees with the company's goals, policies and values.

• Saves costs: Upskilling existing employees and investing in their personal development has been proven to be cheaper in the long run. This is supported by SHRM research, which found that employee replacement can cost 50-200% of an employee's annual salary.

Types of Workplace Training Sessions

Not all training looks the same, and it shouldn't. Different situations call for different approaches. Here are the most common ways and types of workplace training is conducted:

Orientations

This kind of workplace training is often done when introducing something to an employee, a group of employees, or the organization as a whole. Oftentimes, this is associated with onboarding new hires, informing employees of new products and updates, and reinforcing new policies.

Leadership Development Training

Workplace training for leadership roles is an essential part of upskilling employees who have the capability to lead and take charge. Regular training is needed for leadership development as it helps set foundations for managing responsibilities, communication skills, and project management abilities. Leadership development training can also calibrate leadership direction toward business goals.

Quality Assurance and Management Training

For all employees, regardless of rank and position, quality assurance and management are important, hence the need for workplace training regarding them. Workplace training for quality assurance and management include reviewing standards, product testing, and the like.

Safety Training

One of the most important forms of workplace training is for workplace safety. Workplace safety training is done regularly for all employees and covers emergency procedures, safe working practices, safety standards to comply with, and incident management.

Team Training

In some cases, a whole team in an organization can undertake training sessions specific to their needs. This type of workplace training includes simulation training, product development and training, sales training, and other tasks or procedures relevant to the team.

Compliance Training

Compliance training ensures that all standards and regulations are met, including those mandated by federal authorities. In the US, employers are required by OSHA to provide workplace safety and health training to each employee. This training is a legal necessity in most workplaces, not just a best practice. It also incorporates new company policies, local government regulations and international labor codes.

Individual Training

Individuals should also have workplace training sessions on their own in conjunction with their team training. This can include training for ergonomics, general workplace safety, diversity, anti-bias, stress management, and technical skills.

Methods of Training

How training is delivered matters as much as the content itself. There are three primary methods that have distinct advantages for implementing workplace training:

In-person training

The most common training method is to bring all employees together in the same space, either in the workplace or in a different setting. This makes it easier to collaborate and ask questions if needed. However, this can be difficult for everyone to attend, as each employee may have different schedules and logistical concerns.

Online training

This training offers flexibility, allowing employees to undertake their workplace training sessions anytime and anywhere. It can also be completed independently and during employees’ free time to avoid work disruption. For some, however, this may not be as effective as having training done offline or in-person, as there would be a lack of direct communication.

Hybrid training

Hybrid workplace training caters to all kinds of employees, giving them the flexibility to learn and upskill at their own pace, all while still having the benefits of learning in-person, such as better communication channels. Hybrid training can be done in the following ways:

• Using online materials during in-person training sessions to support live instruction

• Encouraging self-paced online learning between scheduled group sessions

• Providing digital resources as follow-up materials after an in-person class

For these reasons, hybrid training sessions have become the preferred method of training for many. Additionally, using both online and offline training sessions and materials also offers the following benefits:

• More cost-effective

• More inclusive for all employees

• Better communication

Best Practices

Effective training needs an adaptable design, right delivery, and commitment to continuous improvement. Here are the best practices to consider to ensure that workplace training creates high-impact results for organizations:

• Establish clear learning objectives: Set defined goals to keep content focused in every training session. These objectives will also serve as a reference for measuring the success of the training.

• Match the training format to the learning need: Assess the most suitable training format. Some safety refresher training works better as short and mobile-friendly courses, while complex training may require face-to-face coaching and mentorship.

• Adjust the training's accessibility: Prepare the training sessions to accommodate restrictions that prevent employees from attending. This includes clearing the schedule or providing translations to those with language barriers.

• Reinforce learning after the session ends: Have a follow-up training session to provide on-the-job practice opportunities and assess learning retention.

• Track completion and assessment: Review records to identify unmet skills gaps. A digital platform that tracks completion and assessment rates in real time will also integrate how these learning outcomes impact business performance.

• Review and update training content: Update training regularly based on the changes in industry regulations, processes, standards and new risks.