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What Is Workplace Learning? Your 2024 Guide
Workplace learning is a critical tool for helping employees grow within their roles. In this guide, you’ll learn what workplace learning is, how it benefits your workforce, and strategies to design an effective workplace learning program tailored to your business.
As workplaces continue to evolve with new technologies like automation, employees need to keep building new skills to stay current. Workplace learning, which integrates skill development into the flow of a typical workday, addresses this need without taking employees away from their essential tasks. This approach not only supports skill growth but also keeps productivity intact.
In fast-paced work environments, where deadlines and responsibilities can make it difficult to prioritize learning, workplace learning helps prevent skill gaps. When employees don’t have time to update their skills, they may struggle with new tools or industry shifts, which can lead to frustration and lower performance. In this guide, we’ll explore the concept of workplace learning, its advantages, and practical strategies for implementing a learning structure that aligns with your business’s goals.
What Is Workplace Learning?
Workplace learning refers to integrating learning and development opportunities into the workday, allowing employees to learn while staying engaged with their tasks. Unlike traditional professional development, which often requires employees to attend separate training sessions, workplace learning enables them to build skills within their roles.
Creating a culture of learning within an organization is essential for successful workplace learning. When employees feel encouraged to dedicate time to development, they’re more likely to view learning as a valuable part of their job, not just another task.
Primary Purposes of Workplace Learning
Workplace learning focuses primarily on upskilling and reskilling: • Upskilling involves helping employees acquire new skills that allow them to take on advanced roles or stay updated with industry trends. • Reskilling gives employees a fresh skill set, often preparing them to transition into different roles within the organization.
Most companies offer structured training during onboarding, but ongoing skill development is often left to occasional sessions, which may not address all employee needs. A lack of continuous learning can lead to skill gaps, job dissatisfaction, and even turnover.
By providing ongoing workplace learning, companies empower employees to address specific skill gaps and improve their competencies over time, resulting in higher satisfaction, stronger job performance, and reduced turnover.
Types of Workplace Learning
Workplace learning generally falls into two categories: formal and informal. • Formal learning has a set curriculum and structure, often delivered through e-learning courses or structured training modules within an LMS. • Informal learning is more flexible, allowing employees to learn on their own through activities like watching videos, listening to podcasts, or reading articles on relevant topics.
Successful workplace learning programs often blend formal and informal learning, offering employees varied ways to develop skills.
Some common types of workplace learning include: • Apprenticeships and mentorships • Integrative technologies like Slack channels for sharing learning resources • Chat interfaces for employee knowledge-sharing • Team training sessions • Independent learning opportunities (e.g., volunteering) • Certification programs with incentives • Email newsletters with learning tips or industry updates • E-learning portals and webinars
To establish an effective workplace learning program, consider the skills you want your employees to acquire and the learning methods that would engage them most. Support from management is essential, as is making learning opportunities easily accessible. Providing incentives for achieving learning goals, celebrating successes, and promoting open communication can help foster a positive learning culture.
Benefits of Workplace Learning
Workplace learning provides significant benefits for both employees and businesses, creating a continuous learning culture that benefits everyone.
Some of the key benefits include: • Increased employee satisfaction: Employees who see that their company invests in their growth tend to feel more valued and satisfied in their roles. • Strengthening skills and addressing gaps: Ongoing learning helps employees build new skills and address any areas where they may need extra support. • Reduced turnover: Employees are more likely to stay with companies that prioritize learning, reducing the need for frequent hiring and onboarding. • Improved knowledge-sharing: Workplace learning encourages employees to share their knowledge, enhancing the team’s collective expertise. • Enhanced performance: Employees who grow within their roles are better equipped for career advancement, contributing to the company’s overall growth.
Getting Started with Talent Development LMS
Talent Development LMS offers courses and resources to help your company build an effective workplace learning culture. Courses like UC Davis’s Professional Skills for the Workplace Specialization provide foundational skills that can help employees develop professionally. Talent Development LMS offers both asynchronous and synchronous courses, allowing your team to learn at their own pace and convenience. We offer solutions like Talent Development Software, LMS for colleges, LMS for schools, LMS for corporations, and LMS for businesses, ensuring organizations have the tools they need to create a culture of learning and development. Recognized as the best LMS Company in the UAE and a top-reported LMS services provider in Saudi Arabia, Talent Development LMS is committed to supporting the growth and success of organizations across sector
