Education during work time opens access to professional development for employees with dependent care, transportation or other after-hours challenges.
Education may be as simple as offering resource lists or informational materials or as advanced as offering in-house classes or tuition reimbursement for offsite learning.
In addition to offering work-related training, in-house classes in ESL (English as a Second Language), parenting skills, how to ride a bus or bike, how to obtain absentee ballots, how to use computers/software, etc. can go a long way toward helping employees with life skills that can support their professional life.
Tips:
- In-house training can tailor training to the specific needs of the employees or organization.
- You can partner with other small organizations to share the cost of educators.
- Offering training during work time can help employees who have transportation, dependent care or situations that prevent skill-building outside of work time.
- Providing educational information and resources on support organizations and social services can be helpful for employees who are new to the area or who cannot find such information in their non-work time.
- Providing educational information, resources, and training in multiple languages helps ensure accessibility and usage.
- Communicating and educating via multiple tools (verbal, email, phone trees, social media, posters, handouts) can ensure that all employees of all abilities, generations and income levels can access the information.
- “Lunch n’ Learn” education can be no-cost if you can bring in professionals willing to do presentations.
- In-house legal counseling or education on financial management or estate and end-of-life planning can help reduce employee stresses.
- “Welcome wagon” activities or materials can help with cultural orientation for new Americans, out-of-staters, etc.
