You recognize the importance of employee development and you think that it’s a great investment. So, you carefully plan your employee development programs and execute them. But, instead of people clamoring for them, you notice that they have low attendance and participation. Why? Here are 5 reasons why your employees don’t want to attend training programs.
5 Reasons Your Employees Don’t Want to Attend Training Programs
Your employees are too busy
Your employees wouldn’t want to attend training programs if they don’t even have time to attend those. You can’t expect them to make time for it when they barely have enough to finish their tasks. And what if they do attend? Then the time dedicated to the training is time not dedicated to their mountain of responsibilities. So, when they go back to their usual jobs, they have even more work than before.
If you want your employees to attend training, you have to address the problem of why they’re too busy. Is their workload reasonable? Are they taking on tasks that they shouldn’t be which affects their efficiency and performance? Think carefully about how you can address these challenges. And, after solving those, then that’s when you can proceed to convince your employees of the advantages of your training programs and make them attend.
Your employees think they’re too busy
Another reason why your employees don’t want to attend training is that they think they’re too busy. You argue that they can fit your programs in their schedule. However, you have to remember that the decision lies in your employees’ hands. And if they think they’re too busy, they won’t attend your training programs.
How can you combat this? Communication is the key. Talk to them about what makes them busy. Ask them if you could provide support so that they could have more time they could use to participate in your learning and development initiatives.
They don’t feel that it’s going to help them
Ensuring that a training program is relevant to the person is one of the golden rules to make your training engaging. When your employees feel that the training program isn’t going to help them, they surely won’t attend it.
So, when you roll out your training programs, make certain that it’s appropriate for their learning and development needs. If they think that it’s going to help them, they’re going to attend it.
They fear change
With employee development comes change. And if your employees fear change, they won’t be willing to attend your training programs. They also won’t see the essence of developing themselves.
To help solve this dilemma, help your employees confront change at work. In a previous blog post, we’ve listed down three ways to do so:
- Help your employees prepare for multiple outcomes;
- Make sure that they don’t panic or become impulsive; and
- Let them understand that they have to accept imperfection.
The training intrudes their free time
You may think that offering training programs during your employees’ free time will make them more willing to attend it. However, usually, that’s not the case.
Your employees need breaks to perform well and be productive. They also need time outside of work for their other responsibilities or leisure. If you constantly intrude on their free time with your training programs, they wouldn’t want to attend it.
Make sure to schedule your training programs at an optimal date and time. If there’s explicit content with the participants, then you can organize programs during breaks or off-work hours. Otherwise, make sure to plot them during office hours.
The benefits of your employee development initiatives give to you and your employees will only be achieved if they actually participate in them. And, to make sure that they do attend, remember to avoid the reasons listed above!
