What If I Train Them And They Leave?

What if you train them over and over and they can get right. And you can't get them to go away.

When all other work options have failed or they have failed in all other work options there is always management!

You think that's bad? My son sent this from the college where he works. No he is not a sign painter.

It's no longer about doing well, it's about thinking that we are. The chasm between the two is large.

I suspect that your son will be just fine. A sense of humor always helps.

My son is doing great; I'm very proud of him. Plus he calls at least once a week and we often talk on the phone for an hour.

The weird thing is that both of the illustrations show "attention to detail", something preached incessantly.They lost the big picture, they were so busy planting the trees that they forgot the shape of the orchard.

This is an important and valid observation. By focussing on tightly controlled work instructions /details, we deny our employees the chance to grow. I for one want to be told "Why" not "How to.". I don't think I'm alone on this. Great point. Milo

What If I Train Them And They Leave?
This is classic management and HR muddlethink.
If you look after your employees they will stay, but if they do go you'll employ someone else you will benefit from their training end experience the've gained elsewhere.
What goes around comes around.
A company can't expect to always benefit from others training whilst not supporting their own workforce, unless of course they pay enough to get those hugely motivated individuals who will train themselves.
Of course a cheapskate company who doesn't train isn't going to attract such individuals and instead will have a management who just complains about the workforce and a bunch of unmotivated employees who don't know what is required of them.
Envolve the employees in what they are doing, make them feel they are contributing to the product, same goes for management, get on the factory floor, see what's involved and talk to the people getting their hands dirty.
Del

Are there any examples of this? Apart from John Lewis and, if the exec on Radio 4 is to be believed, Sainsbury's?

same goes for management, get on the factory floor, see what's involved and talk to the people getting their hands dirty.

I always had the greatest respect for managers that were willing to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty.

I agree with you, kramarat. I get stuck in whenever possible.

The exec from Sainsbury's was defending "shelf stacking" as an entry level job. When asked if he had ever stacked shelves, he cheerfully replied "Every Christmas at my local store, usually in the wines and spirits department as that tends to empty out quickly at that time of year. I aim to get down there for about two weeks"

In John Lewis (department store) and Waitrose (supermarket in the same group), every employee must "walk the floor" as part of their initial employment and, I believe, periodically throughout their career.

I'm sure it was the Sainsbury's exec who pointed out that not all of the jobs they offered were shelf stacking and customer services - he mentioned logistics and engineering as others. I had to sit down...engineering being mentioned on national radio!

A retail engineer?

Now that would be worthy of a blog all by itself!

See what you can dig up.

Milo

PMSL!!! You're right - worthy of a blog.

_{[I think he meant maintenance and building engineers...shhhh]}

There is more than one type of employee in any business.

Oldtimers are more likely to be resistant to change; no amount of training can help because they know it all. They are also more likely to stay, regardless of your training regimen, because of their age and lack of prospects in the industry.

Younger employees will require training due to their lack of experience. Training regimen or not, they will leave if they are not challenged. Thinking they will stay just because they've been trained is wrong.

In other words, who cares if they leave or not? Your duty as an employer is to train them so they don't kill themselves, kill someone else or royally screw your business into the ground. Gone are the days when you could work your whole life with one Company. Expect them to leave.

Well stated. Good analysis.

Milo

Thanks!

Well stated. Milo