The Value of Training

In an economy that continues to provide new challenges every day, one should consider training and certifications as investments in future business growth.  Most of us take for granted that we are expected to provide “credentials” to drive a vehicle.  If an officer were to stop us, we would already be reaching for our driver’s license, insurance card and proof of ownership.  By the same token, we should be willing and able to prove that we have the “right” to provide custodial services to a customer.

Training can be as simple as “showing the new hire the ropes” on how best to clean a rest room, vacuum carpet/rugs, dust, sweep, damp mop and empty trash. It can become more complicate when we take into account the need to train workers on the safe use of chemicals and equipment that can cause untold damage and harm if allowed to be in untrained hands.  Public relations, etiquette, hygiene, servicing a machine, security protocols, emergency procedures, OSHA compliance, Right to Know, lifting safely, sexual harassment, ladders and a multitude of other topics are all a part of training today.  

Although we should certainly train to task for the most effective, safest way of performing a job, it is also important to protect our company from potential law suits that can easily be brought on by inadequate training in key areas.

Training to task with oversight and guidance from your vendor/distributor can help to standardize a process and avoid missing a key issue that might come back to haunt later on.  Many distributor/vendors have self contained training utilizing videos, job cards, notebooks, tests and follow up information to reduce risk of injury and assure quality outcomes.  

We will look closer at some of these concepts in future articles.  Just remember that training can be a great investment in your front line staff who actually have more face time with your customers and their customers than you do.  

Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean.

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years.  He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678.314.2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.