GCSE Business Studies/Training

Induction Training

Induction training is used to introduce a new employee to the company and the way it works. It can last anything from half a day to several weeks, but it is important that every company does it because:

• Most people who quit their job do it within the first weeks, because they have difficulty adapting. This reflects poorly on the image of the company and means that they have to go through the whole process of recruitment again, which is expensive and time-wasting. Induction training helps reduce this.
• Induction training is necessary so that employees know what they are expected to do.
• Given appropriate induction training, employees will become productive more quickly and adapt better to the company
• advantages? disadvantages? where are they?
• training conferences

Training Type

Training can be divided into two main types. These are on-the-job training and off-the-job training. Most companies will use a mixture of the two methods of training.

On-the-job Training

In this type of training, the employee learns skills from another employee (typically somebody with more experience at the job).

Advantages

• To the employer:
  • Less expensive than sending them to a course.
  • Knows where the employee is and what the employee is doing at all times.
  • Training is exactly what is needed for the job.
  • Skills may not be transferable to other companies, reducing the chances the employee will leave.
  • The employee will continue working during the training.
• To the employee:
  • Does not have to travel for training.
  • Learns relevant skills which will help him in his job.

Disadvantages

• To the employer:
  • Mistakes made by the trainee can be damaging to the company.
  • The trainer will be less productive whilst they are doing the training.
• To the employee:
  • Does not gain any official qualification.
  • Skills learnt are often only relevant to the company, and will not help in a different job.
  • Normally only a short training.
  • Often, they are not trained by an expert teacher, so the quality of the training may be poor.

Off-the-job Training

In this type of training, the employee is sent to a training center to be taught skills related to his job.

Advantages

• To the employer:
  • Any mistakes made will not affect the company.
  • If courses are held outside of work hours, the employee is still working normally.
• To the employee:
  • Gains an official qualification, which will help when applying for a promotion or a new job.
  • Often a fun or interesting experience because it changes the normal routine of work and lets them meet new people.

Disadvantages

• To the employer:
  • Courses are often expensive.
  • The employee will be missing work time to go to the courses.
  • Once the employee has gained the qualification, he may use it to find another job.
  • Cannot check on the employee easily when he is away from work.
• To the employee:
  • May have to travel to get to the training centre.
  • Some courses may be outside of work hours.
  • Some of the skills learnt may not be directly transferable to his job.