On-line Technical Bulletin  •  Volume 7 Issue 1 – March, 2009

Making a Winning Argument for Investing in

Employee Training During the Economic Downturn

By John Williams Jr.

During tough economic times, company employee training budgets are typically one of the first victims when operating cuts strike home. In a survey of 84 corporate and government training professionals, Expertus, a learning services firm, reported that 48% of the respondents expected decreases in training budgets this year, up from 41% in 2008.

Cutting training budgets, however, may not be the most prudent course of action for progressive-minded companies. Leading training groups, such as the American Management Association, are quick to point out that slashing training during tough times can have a significant impact on employee morale and output.

Bounce Back
Generally, workers who receive ongoing training believe their employers want to be competitive in the marketplace and are appreciative of their contributions to the organization, according to private and U.S. government labor studies. Consequently, employees feel more secure and motivated, resulting in greater workplace productivity.

In this recessionary period, plagued by stifling layoffs and downsizing, training is a great way for companies to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to employees. Many training experts assert that companies with the fortitude to maintain or even increase their training expenditures will reap numerous bottom-line rewards when the economy bounces back.

Tailored Training
In the article, "Improving Employee Training and Development During an Economic Downturn," author Chris Young, offers the following advice to companies:

• Administer training that is really needed. It's hard to strategically invest in training and development if you aren't aware of what your team members' strengths and weaknesses really are. Allocating a few dollars to thoroughly assess your employees' strengths and weaknesses is money well spent and will allow you to deliver the targeted training that brings about real results.
• Establish measurable returns. If you aren't able to measure the results of a training investment chances are it isn't a good investment. It can be cumbersome and laborious to establish the necessary metrics for evaluating the return on your training efforts, but ultimately it will demonstrate the value of the investment and make it easier to defend this part of the budget to top company management.
• Hire training vendors who understand your needs. Companies often have a disdain for hired training vendors as most vendors have limited solutions that are applied without regard to the real issues at hand. If a potential vendor seems more focused on selling you their product instead of understanding your unique needs and how they can help, chances are they can't really provide a training solution that meets your needs.
• Avoid boxed training. Focus on providing the kind of training that can be tailored to meet your employees unique needs.

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PLMA, Silliker to Present "Implementing

SQF 2000 Systems Training Program

With food safety uppermost in the minds of many retailers, auditing and certification of private label suppliers has become one of the most pressing issues for manufacturers today. Reinventing the wheel is not a requisite for the successful implementation of SQF 2000. Developing and utilizing proven implementation strategies, however, can prevent your company from going around in circles.

To help Private Label Manufacturers Association member companies meet the need for audits and certification, PLMA, in conjunction with Silliker, Inc., is sponsoring a special two-day course devoted to SQF implementation. The course will be held April 28-29, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare Hotel. Click here to access and download a course brochure.

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Silliker Short Course Calendar

Food Safety Trainer
5/11/09 - 5/13/09 (Chicago, IL)
This three-day course can help your trainers how to overcome common obstacles associated with teaching employees from different cultural and generational backgrounds. Through interactive exercises, using prominent food safety subjects as teaching frameworks, students are taught how to excel as instructors by learning effective adult learning strategies and utilizing proven instructor techniques.

Beginning Laboratory Methods in Food Microbiology
8/11/09 - 8/12/09 (Chicago Heights, IL)
Our two-day course teaches new lab technicians the basics of lab safety and how to use common laboratory tools and testing equipment, and proper techniques for conducting microbiological tests.

Effective Environmental Monitoring & Aseptic Technique
9/8/09 - 9/9/09 (Chicago, IL)
Understanding the microbial condition of the production environment is key to the overall success of your food safety system. This course can help you build a sound and reliable program to protect the integrity of your product.

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eEdu News & Updates:
Gonzalez Named Technical Services Director

Gustavo Gonzalez, Ph.D., was recently promoted to Technical Services Director at Silliker, Inc. In his new role, he is responsible for the daily operations of the organization's education and consulting business units. A graduate of Iowa State University, Dr. Gonzalez joined the Homewood, IL-based food testing and consulting company as education program manager in 2004. Prior to attending and graduating from ISU, he worked for an agricultural government business agency and the second largest meat processing company in Mexico.

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