1. Discuss the differences between mandatory and optional training topics.
A company’s success depends a lot on the correct employee training process. Training is also crucial for the employees, as it educates and helps them comply with a number of laws and regulations. The difference between mandatory and optional trainings is that the mandatory course covers all the necessary basic information concerning the company and is either required or recommended by federal laws. Discrimination, safety and sexual harassment are the three areas of federal law, which are recommended as mandatory training topics ("Developing an Employee Training Plan for Legal Compliance", 2016). Optional training topics are usually offered on topics related to the industry or general interests that unite employees, such as football.
2. What is the purpose of employer-provided training?
The aim of the employer-provided training is learning and upgrading employee’s skills. With the help of training topics, the business runs better, the employees are better aware of possible difficulties and are more likely to handle them properly. Qualified and productive workers are essential for the company’s prosperity. Therefore, the employer-provided training is a good investment into an organization’s future success.
3. Using examples, describe the types of training that employers provide.
Sexual harassment employee training is required by the Supreme Court ruling. This includes ensuring that employees as well as supervisors understand their responsibilities for breaking the organization’s anti-harassment policy and the complaint procedure ("Developing an Employee Training Plan for Legal Compliance", 2016).
Safety training provides information about specific safety and health hazards, their identification and control as well as meeting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards ("Safety and Health Topics", 2016).
Discrimination training covers such topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, age and weight discrimination, race/nationality discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination and pregnancy discrimination ("Harassment & Discrimination", 2016).
4. Are there some topics that are optional that should be considered mandatory for specific positions or industries? If so, which ones?
There are some topics that could become mandatory in order to improve specific industries. For example, I strongly believe that Lean Project Management training would be of great help for the manufacturing industry, as it would allow to improve the quality and speed of production and cut costs overall.
Living in the XXI century means that we face stressful situations every day. This fact influences our work productiveness. Stress Management training should become a part of the mandatory training program, as people need to know how to cope with stress and minimize its consequences. This topic would be good for doctors, teachers, police officers and all those who are obliged to cope with stress every working day.
References
Developing an Employee Training Plan for Legal Compliance. (2016). Trainingtoday.blr.com. Retrieved 4 July 2016, from http://trainingtoday.blr.com/employee-training-resources/Developing-a-Training-Plan-for-Legal-Compliance
Harassment & Discrimination. (2016). Workplaceanswers.com. Retrieved 4 July 2016, from http://www.workplaceanswers.com/courses/harassment-and-discrimination-prevention/
Safety and Health Topics. (2016). Osha.gov. Retrieved 4 July 2016, from https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/
