Employee training and development can benefit both employees and employers in several ways. It can increase job satisfaction, motivation, and productivity among employees. It can also increase efficiencies, financial gains, innovation, and reduce turnover. Training topics include communication, computer skills, customer service, diversity, ethics, and health and safety. Training is available in personal and professional development areas, and in competencies like leadership, teamwork, and customer service. While currently only one training is mandatory per year, making more training mandatory could help ensure staff are prepared for the future and do not fail in their roles, though it may face union objections.

1. Employee Training and Development: Why bother?

2. Training and development can be initiated for a variety of reasons: To train to a specific job, promotion, or skill set. When a performance evaluation indicates improvement is needed As part of an overall professional development program As part of a succession plan to help an employee be eligible for a planned change in role in the organization

3. Benefits to employees and employers: Increased job satisfaction and morale among employees, therefore increased productivity Increased employee motivation Increased efficiencies in processes, resulting in financial gain Increased capacity to adopt new technologies and methods

4. Cont.: Benefits to employees and employers: Increased innovation in strategies and products Reduced employee turnover Enhanced company image, e.g., conducting ethics training (i.e., Everyone Serves Youth) Risk management, e.g., training about sexual harassment, diversity training

5. General Topics for T & D: Communication Computer skills Customer service Diversity Ethics Human relations Quality initiatives Safety Sexual harassment

6. T & D available at QL by Subject Personal Efficiency Career management Conflict management Influencing skills Presentation skills Problem solving Stress management Time management Visual communication Writing skills

7. T & D available at QL by Subject Managerial Coaching skills How to give feedback Leadership skills Management of change Managing people Motivating your employees Organizing skills Planning Project management Teamwork

8. T & D available at QL by Subject Library Cataloging Collection development Customer service Marketing Reference

9. Available at QL by Compentency General Customer service Flexibility Information seeking Initiative Reliability Teamwork

10. Available at QL by Compentency Managerial Developing others Impact and influence Recognizing performance Team leadership

11. Available at QL by Competency Leadership Building library talent Commitment to the library Holding others accountable Influencing others Leading the team Striving to achieve Thinking strategically Team commitment

12. What to train for: Value added Performance Promotion Internal and external customer satisfaction Standards for professional competency

13. Mandatory or voluntary? Currently only one professional development item is mandatory per year. Should more trainings be mandatory for employees and under what conditions and standards? Union objection.

14. Are we prepared for the future? Without proper training are we setting ourselves and our staff up to fail? Should training be mandatory for supervisory positions (librarian and clerk alike)? If so, what do need to do to make this happen?

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