Find out how HR employee training is changing due to challenges and needs for managers and employees in 2014.

In 2014, companies are searching for talent. Talent is the new currency of human resources (HR) departments worldwide. The best HR departments are learning how to appeal to, recruit and retain talented employees. Technical skills are still in short supply from IT to science to analytics, therefore employees with excellent technical skills and ability will be highly coveted. Sourcing is moving to a global level due to the need for viable talent networks in business.

According to Josh Bersin, training departments will be renamed “capability departments.” Companies will learn to partner with colleges and universities, begin or expand apprenticeships, assign developmental tasks and concentrate on ongoing learning and development. These are the companies that will attract the best talent going forward.

In a survey published by BLR Training and Development, more than 1,050 businesses provided responses regarding employee training methods. From this survey, it was clear that training new and existing employees in a corporation has changed, exhibiting new trends for 2014. Here are some of the findings from this survey.

Compliance Training

Compliance employee training given to employees and staff in order of frequency:

•    New hire orientation
•    Sexual harassment
•    Emergency procedures
•    Safety/hazardous materials
•    Discrimination

Compliance employee training given to managers and supervisors in order of frequency:

•    Sexual harassment
•    Discrimination
•    New hire orientation
•    Emergency preparedness
•    Safety/hazardous materials

Professional Development

These topics were rated in importance for professional development of managers and supervisors. Managers and supervisors ranked leadership as the most important subject for formal mentoring programs.

•    Leadership–82.6%
•    Handling problem employees–76%
•    Ethics and integrity–71.7%
•  Communication–69.4%
•    Team building–69.1%

Highest Training Need

Companies were asked what kind of training that they needed the most. The types of training are ranked below.

•    Leadership and supervisory–20%
•    Job skills–22%
•    Compliance–12%

The biggest complaint, 27% of respondents, stated that there isn’t enough time for training. 39% of respondents said that training lasted one hour, 19% said two hours and 15% said all day.

HR’s Role in Employee Training

What is the role of the human resources department in your training methods and techniques?

•    Decide what training is needed–86%
•    Purchase training materials–80%
•    Conduct the actual training–79%

Common training methods are:

•    In-person by staff–60%
•    Print materials–40%
•    Online–36%
•    DVD/Video–20%
•    In-person by someone outside the company–19%

HR Technology

Bersin states that HR technology and content is booming and will continue to expand in 2014. Integrated solutions for HR are being developed while talent management companies offer end-to-end and analytics solutions. These include mobile apps, increase of video and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC). Technology is there to simplify the complexity of HR needs and methods in order to deliver value.

Challenges

HR teams need to be “reskilled” in order to go through radical change. It is no longer an administrative team rather a team that is needed to acquire, develop, retain and manage high-level talent. HR teams are being asked to become “data-driven” by using real data to understand the people under their purview. It is not good enough to just use judgment or common sense.

Disclaimer Statement: All information presented is never intended as legal advice and is for information purposes only.