When we think about employee training plans, it’s often associated with large companies with multiple departments or businesses that are in highly regulated spaces like healthcare. In reality, there are a number of businesses that need an employee training plan to help with their business operations, regulatory compliance, or risk reduction.
Let’s talk about three reasons why your small business may need an employee training plan.
1. Your local and state agencies require it.
Depending on the state you reside in and how many employees you have, it may be a legal requirement to have things such as anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training in place.
Even if you’re in a state that doesn’t require training, it may be beneficial from a liability standpoint to have this type of training in place.
2. Your employees use a work computer or technology connected to the internet.
Cybersecurity is vital for modern businesses. We often hear about data breaches, ransomware, and hacking taking place in the news. Help your employees and protect your business by providing employee training on cybersecurity and data information handling.
3. Your business is highly dependent on specific procedures or processes
Assuming you’ve created the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for your business, you want to have a plan of how you will ensure each of your employees is familiar with those procedures. That will be accomplished through training. If you have not established your business’s SOPs, documenting them would be your first (and very important) step.
Creating the Training
You may be thinking, “Can I create the training myself?”
Absolutely!
You’ll want to make sure that the training that you create is thorough. Training standards are going to vary based on the topic being covered. Regulatory and compliance training will have a list of required topics and delivery methods. Be careful to adhere to the guidelines provided by federal and state regulatory agencies.
For those highly regulated topics, contact an attorney familiar with compliance who can review your training. This will ensure that your compliance training meets legal standards.
Your other option is to hire a consultant familiar with employee training who can help you create a training plan that is efficient and cost-effective.
Training your employee may seem like an optional expense but is an investment in the security and growth of your business. Make it a priority to establish your plan and have each of your employees armed with the knowledge to help your business succeed.