In Quebec, you often hear that training employees is expensive, especially if they end up leaving for a competitor. But ask yourself the opposite question: what happens if you don't train them and they decide to stay?
In a market where technical skills become outdated faster and faster, training is no longer a “luxury” expense; it's your best retention tool. Here's why investing in your people pays off.
1. The direct link: learning so they don't leave
It's no secret: employees who feel they're progressing are much more engaged.
- The numbers don't lie: Access to professional development is one of the three most important hiring and retention criteria for Millennials and Gen Z.
- The message: By offering training, you're telling your employee: “I believe in your potential and I want to build the future with you.” It's the most tangible form of recognition there is.
2. How do you hit the mark? Identify real needs
Don't train for the sake of training. For the investment to pay off, it must meet a real need:
- On the ground: What gaps are slowing down production or causing day-to-day errors?
- The future: Where is your industry heading (automation, AI, new environmental standards)?
- The people: What are your employees' aspirations? An employee who wants to become a team lead needs management coaching, not one more technical course.
3. Formal training vs. learning on the job (the informal side)
While structured classroom or online courses have their place, remember that 70% of learning happens on the job.
- Mentoring: Pairing a veteran with a new hire costs nothing and is highly effective for passing on in-house know-how.
- Communities of practice: Encourage your experts to share their wins and mistakes at lunch-and-learns. That's where a learning culture takes root.
4. Measuring ROI: beyond smiles at the end of class
A satisfaction survey (“Did you enjoy the lunch?”) isn't enough. To measure return on investment (ROI), look at your key performance indicators (KPIs):
- Has the error rate dropped since the training?
- Has team morale improved?
- Were you able to promote someone internally rather than recruit externally at a high cost?
Did you know? In Quebec, the Act to promote workforce skills development and recognition (the “1% law”) requires companies with a payroll above $2 million to invest at least 1% of it in training. Why not turn this obligation into a strategic advantage?
Grow your team with us
A team that learns is a team that wins. At Industrielle RH, we believe skills development is the cornerstone of a solid HR strategy. We help you build training plans that make sense for your employees and deliver impact for your business.
Ready to take your talent further? Let's talk about your game plan.