Have you found yourself struggling to retain or recruit employees lately? You’re not alone! The LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report shows that 90% of organizations are concerned about employee retention. Replacing employees can cost up to two times their yearly salary, ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 in turnover costs. Learning and development initiatives have a direct impact on retention and recruiting. Well-trained employees are statistically more engaged, with a marked increase in job retention. Creating intentional training programs has a positive impact on organizational success, from employee satisfaction to higher productivity levels. 

Effective Onboarding 

During the interview process, many candidates inquire about what to expect for their onboarding training. Professional development opportunities (or lack of) can also influence candidates’ decisions. In a former role, I was tasked with taking over the new employee onboarding program and finding ways to elevate it. We were experiencing repetitive issues when employees finished training. Many employees were leaving shortly after moving onto the floor due to inadequate training, leading to high turnover rates. We knew we could improve, and we invested in the resources to do so. 

Time spent assessing the current state of the program revealed some peer trainers were selected based on their high performance, not necessarily on their ability to train. Identifying this allowed us to train the trainers and set clear expectations. Many security organizations already incorporate job shadowing into their onboarding and pair seasoned employees with new hires to encourage peer coaching. The intentional skill development for the trainers helped teammates build skills and encouraged them to seek promotions into advanced roles. I saw firsthand how much employees invest in the company when given meaningful training. After implementing these changes, new employee turnover decreased. 

The Role of Digital Learning 

When looking at the available resources, I found several large gaps. We were using an online learning management system (LMS) for training, but the courses were quickly becoming outdated with bi-weekly/monthly policy changes. We ensured that these courses would be updated with any new policy changes as they occurred. Enabling new employees to use real-time digital resources meant they were more comfortable navigating their daily tasks and self-solving issues when answers were readily available. 

PSA offers our members free access to PSA University (our LMS). We’re proud to host over 200 courses across a wide range of skills. We understand the value of online training and have implemented a PSA University app that allows users to access training anywhere, from their phone or smart device. The training landscape is consistently changing, but training hosted virtually is here to stay. Offering employees the ability to enhance their current skills or pick up new ones through training helps employees feel invested in the organization. 

Supporting Professional Development 

Investing in training and individual professional development yields long-term benefits for both organizations and their employees. The PSA Network just wrapped up PSA TEC 26, and we saw an increase this year in the number of individual employees our integrators sent to the event. Integrators supporting their teammates by allowing them to attend an educational conference with opportunities for live certification training shows the value that PSA Network integrators place on professional development. Sponsoring conference attendance can support employees’ long-term professional development, leading to higher rates of employee satisfaction and retention. 

By reducing employee turnover, companies can safeguard their financial health. Offering opportunities for tenured employees to train, mentor and coach strengthens the company’s leadership pipeline and cultivates a culture of growth and engagement. Creating clear pathways for career progression enhances employee satisfaction, productivity and loyalty, ensuring that your workforce remains motivated and committed to the organization’s success.

Read More Integration Spotlight Columns