What’s it: Induction training is training to introduce and help your new employee adapt quickly to their new role. Programs may include an introduction to company policies, key personnel, and organizational structures. It may also familiarize technical aspects such as using the machines or equipment they will be using.
Besides being cheap, this training helps you increase retention because your new employees feel welcomed. But, it can also interfere with the workflow if you don’t have a dedicated team to provide training.
Why is induction training important?
Getting your new employees to quickly understand the new work environment is why induction training is important. They know how to perform tasks and use available equipment. They are also familiar with systems and procedures to follow later when carrying out tasks and work.
Getting new employees to adapt more quickly to new tasks and work environments is important. When they understand more quickly what they are supposed to do, you can immediately get their output. In addition, the work process can normally run because vacant positions are immediately filled with competent individuals.
How does induction training work?
Induction training provides your new employees with important information and knowledge about their job. You welcome and help them transition and adapt to their new roles.
This training can be a site tour, where you introduce your company’s various workspaces and divisions. So, they are more easily adapt to the new environment and people. Apart from that, you might also introduce them to aspects such as:
- Coworkers and their boss
- Company policies and rules such as absentee procedures
- Work safety and security standards
- Job instructions
- Equipment to use
What are the advantages of induction training?
Because they are familiar with colleagues, environment, equipment, and tasks, new employees should be able to quickly carry out their duties effectively. It all makes them adapt faster. You equip them with the information they need to know before effectively taking out their duties and work. As a result, they immediately deliver results and benefits to your company.
Other advantages of induction training are:
Retention. By helping them adapt, it increases retention. They feel welcome and well appreciated in their new place. It creates a good and professional impression in their eyes.
Business process. Business processes normally run because new employees can immediately carry out their duties. On the other hand, if they don’t know everything needed to work, business processes can be disrupted. Vacant positions are not immediately filled by competent and ready to do the job.
Efficiency. If employees get to work immediately, less time is wasted. In fact, you pay for their time. I mean, you pay them not per output but per month. That means you don’t just calculate the salary when they first do the job. But, it also includes the time they spend adapting to a new work environment and role.
Quality. New employees know what standards they must meet by introducing policies and rules. It ensures the quality of output you want is achieved. For example, suppose they operate a production machine. In that case, they can run to standards and produce output to your company’s specifications, just as your former employees did.
Work environment. Getting to know coworkers and the work environment can quickly establish good communication with superiors and other employees. It supports a positive work environment.
What are the disadvantages of induction training?
Your company needs to devote time and old staff to train new employees. Your old staff is dedicated to doing it, and it’s their part of their job. So, it doesn’t interfere with the existing workflow because you have prepared other employees to back up their work during training.
But, if not, your staff spends time just to train new employees to adapt. So, they cannot do routine work and tasks while training.
As a result, your company incurs a loss twice. First, the time spent by the old staff training and not carrying out daily tasks. Second, the time spent by new employees during training, where they can’t immediately do the task for the first time. Thus, there is no output from both during training. In fact, you pay the salary for the two lost times.
Another disadvantage is related to effectiveness. Induction training may not be effective enough to make new employees work according to company standards. For example, staff trains them on tasks and operating machines manuals. Yet, they may not be able to remember all the material. So, they have to explore further and try it again and again.
In other cases, training is not enough to help them do other jobs besides daily tasks. That’s because this training is usually too focused on the main work to be done, not on other jobs such as ad hoc projects.
What to read next
- On-the-job Training: Types, Advantages, Disadvantages
- Induction Training: Advantages and Disadvantages
- Off-the-job Training: Types, Advantages, and Disadvantages
- Cognitive Training: Types, Advantages, and Disadvantages
- Behavioral Training: Types, Advantages, Disadvantages
- Apprenticeship: Costs and Benefits
- Employee Development: Types and Benefits
- Training: Definition, Importance, Types, and Benefits
