Training On Company Time

[BadgerEngineer]

I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were on training/professional development on company time.

Its in best interest of a company to continually train staff and keep them up to speed with advancements in the industry. However, how much 'personal' professional/technical training should be done on the company dollar?

What are other firms doing out there?

For example, if you have an employee who wants to study or train themselves by reading/researching or doing practice problems for several hours a week (on comapny time) - is this OK? If the subjects are those related to the company's current work it seems their training will/could lead to company advancement. However, there is a fine line between training and making sure the work gets done. How do you balance this?

What about seminars and workshops? (Granted this can be largely based on the seminar expenses) But for this example lets assume the seminar is free and the employee need only a (paid) day off work to attend.

I would want employees who are eager to do self learning/training to develop their technical knowledge so its difficult to discourage this at work.

How are other firms handling this? I appreciate all your input.

 

[HgTX]

Hell, work should be PROVIDING the training!!

Hg


Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[ctopher]

We have mandatory 5 days training a year.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

 

[KENAT]

In theory we have an allocation of time per year for training, something like a week or so.

However, times are tuff so a lot of us haven't had much. We've tried to squeeze in a few lunch & learn things from our software vendors but they don't really add much value.

Also, the training budget is the same as the attending seminars/conferences budget. This gets largely used up by some of our scientists etc. that go to industry events and present out latest research etc.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[ScottyUK]

The company I stopped working for about two hours ago had an excellent attitude to training. Most years they invested a large amount of money getting good training from OEMs and good third party sources to help us do our jobs well. Training was on company time and on the company account. Obviously if a course was at a distant location then we would spend some of our personal time there too, but I didn't see that as a negative thing because most of the guys I worked with were friends as well as workmates. I attended the odd seminar on my own time, but formal courses were definitely 'work'.



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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[metengr]

ScottyUK

The company I stopped working for about two hours ago had an excellent attitude to training.

Don't tell me you have left the rather safe occuptation of Power Generation? Let me guess, you have retired and never need to work again?

 

[cedarbluffranch]

I hate company paid education. I work at a large employer (we build airplanes in Seattle) and we train and train and train and train. It sucks.

On the other hand, my company pays for 100% of off-hours education through universities. That's cool because I get college credit for it, unlike the useless on-hours training that simply wastes my time.

 

[ScottyUK]

Hi Metengr,

I've turned to the dark side: consulting! I join Parsons Brinkerhoff's generation group tomorrow.

I've been at the same plant for nearly ten years: it's time for a change and hopefully I will learn a few new things along the way. There's no shortage of work for experienced power guys in the UK so even leaving a 'safe' position isn't that risky: pretty much every one of the large generating companies in the UK is recruiting at present, as are most of the big industrial users.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[moltenmetal]

ScottyUK: you've joined the ranks of the "stationery" engineer?! The ones whose only product is paper?! The dark side indeed! Do us a favour while you're there and teach the young 'uns something!

 

[metengr]

ScottyUK;
Good luck to you! I am still in Power Generation in the US and will cross over to the dark side like you, however, only after I retire.

 

[ScottyUK]

Molten... last time I checked I was one of the young 'uns. Mind, it has been a while since I checked.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[moltenmetal]

Unless the consultancy you're working for is different than the ones I'm dealing with, as long as you've got a few years in the real world under your belt, you may well be equivalent to the grand old man of the crew! Remember the old adage that in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king...!