Workplace
Success Stories - Best Practices 2002
Recognition
Strategies for a Diverse Workforce
|
Practice
Name: Training & Development |
Workplace
Issues Addressed: |
Description
of the practice
On-going
Training & Development sessions occur monthly, quarterly, &
ad hoc on general topics and issues specific to work in Facilities
Services (CP). An employee writes: "I like attending the trainings
because it helps me to continue to learn and be informed, plus I get
a chance to see and meet the entire staff. These programs have shown
me that Facilities Services cares about their employees and want to
help them be better persons and workers."
Benefits
of adopting the practice
Facilities Services invests in the on-going development of its
employees around topics specific to CP work. The department is
also very supportive of employees who seek training for career
advancement or want to obtain a degree. Employees say that these
programs help to break down barriers between units and provide
opportunities for more education and interaction. These trainings
help to improve internal business practices and services to customers
and provide CP with employees with new skills/education. The training
program improves communication between units in a supportive environment.
It promotes a team-oriented work place and improves morale. As
a result of this training program, Facilities Services is able to
achieve their goals of creating a community and developing a team-oriented
work place and to enhance the daily operation, leading to greater
efficiency. Employees say that they especially appreciate that
these trainings allow them to interact with other units in CP
and that this exposure has helped them understand how the units
work together to reach their goals. The Facilities Services Training
and Development practice meets the needs of a diverse workforce
in the following ways: There is staff input--employees initiated
the idea and developed the program; there is a continuous feedback
process. This program is inclusive. It is open to all employees
including students.
How
this practice works
Based on a need expressed by staff, employees developed an
on-going training and development program. The staff identifies
the topics they need training in. Each month Facilities Services
hosts training sessions specific to CP work and each quarter they
host sessions that are general in nature. These sessions target
leadership, management, and organizational skills. At the beginning
of the year a training calendar is distributed to staff highlighting
the quarterly sessions, while targeted units within the department
attend the monthly sessions. Although the monthly session topics
are unit-specific, all of the sessions are open to all Facilities Services employees. The monthly sessions are often facilitated
by in-house staff sharing their expertise, while hired training
professionals facilitate the quarterly sessions. Several of the
sessions have been opened up to other campus departments or units
with whom they have a close working relationship (Physical Plant,
Campus Supply, Environmental Health and Safety, etc.). Throughout
the fiscal year Facilities Services is able to identify additional
training needs that arise and host ad hoc trainings to meet their
continuing needs. The vice chancellor has a policy requiring management
to give all staff the time to attend all trainings offered by
the department.
What
you need in place to replicate this practice
Top management support is needed. Feedback mechanisms. Include
staff in decision-making process. Mandate that all management
attend monthly/quarterly training events. Policy from Vice Chancellor
stating that management is to give all staff the time to attend
all trainings offered by the department. The monthly sessions
are often facilitated by in-house staff sharing their expertise,
while hired training professionals facilitate the quarterly sessions.
Funds may be required to hire outside professionals to facilitate
some training sessions.
Tangible
improvements to the department as a result of adopting this practice
These on-going training sessions help improve internal business
practices and services to customers. Facilities Services acquires
employees with new skill sets and education. There is greater
efficiency and improved communication between units. The training
sessions, which are attended by all, promote a team-oriented workplace,
build community, improve morale, and increase employee satisfaction.
Why
this practice was so successful and is worth replicating
Management supports and encourages staff development. Staff
are included in the decision-making/feedback process. The department
makes it convenient for staff to participate in departmental activities.
A resource library provides material from the trainings to reinforce
what was learned. The unit supervisors follow up with their staff
to reinforce what was learned to ensure that the staff can relate
what is learned to the unit's core business. With management support
and staff inclusion in the decision-making process Facilities Services
is able to have successful programs and feels that this recipe
would also work for other departments. Another reason the program
is successful is that the vice chancellor and all management attend
each monthly and quarterly training event. This shows staff that
management recognizes that programs are important and supports
not only the programs but also the staff. The presence of management
at programs also shows that they are part of the team and not
separate; this creates the overall family (community) environment
that is enjoyed in that department. Overall the support of the
management team validates the importance of the training program,
which makes it a success.
Related policies/guidelines:
(1)
Policy
50: Professional Development.
(2) Policy 51: Reduced Fee
Enrollment.
(3) Guide
to Managing Human Resources, Chapter II: Employee Development
Training