Recommendation of the Training Programmes in Post-COVID Scenario - which should become mandatory for all employees when they join?

As an HR, do you agree that companies and employees who gave little importance to training programs are really suffering in this pandemic?
Those companies and employees who were continuously learning are finding new ways to do business, or at least less worried about the future.
What is the one training program you recommend, which should become mandatory for all employees when they join your company?
Please comment here.

Dear Shivani,

Replies to your queries are given below:

As an HR, do you agree that companies and employees who gave little importance to training programs are really suffering in this pandemic?

Reply: - The companies are suffering because of the demand slump. India's GDP fell for the seven quarters even before the COVID pandemic. Even before the pandemic, Indian economy was sick anyway. COVID pandemic has pushed it to the ICU!

The decline in business has nothing to do with the poor quality of the training or no training. Irrespective of the quality of training, there are examples of corporate decline. A classic example is Jet Airways or even Kingfisher. Both were known for good employee practices. Nokia lost to Apple, not because of their poor training practices. 

Those companies and employees who were continuously learning are finding new ways to do business, or at least less worried about the future.

Reply: - In this VUCA world, to say that "companies and employees who were continuously learning are finding new ways to do business" is an overstatement. Yes, continuous improvement is important. It reduces the cost of the product or services. However, a company needs to have a path-breaking creative product. Though India calls itself a IT-giant, none of the Indian company is at par with Google or Microsoft or Dell or IBM. Please note that the electric bulb was invented but was not created by doing continuous improvement of the candle!

What is the one training program you recommend, which should become mandatory for all employees when they join your company?

Reply: - Today in the COVID scenario, there is a slump in the market. The slump is going to remain for the next couple of quarters. Against this backdrop, no company will have an elbow room to raise the price of their product or service. The only option that one will have is to reduce the cost of backend operations. Therefore, a training programme that reduces the direct cost of operations is recommended most. 

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

I fully agree with my professional friend's views. To add my own views as well: Many employees have been laid off and now they are likely to resume their jobs. Many have been working from home. This has been so for the past few months. There is something called learning curve in every worker. This tends to go down after some time, due to several factors. Prolonged stay at home, physical disconnect and daily interaction with other co-workers, lack of continuity in the working style and environment, lack of opportunity to continuing education etc. It is possible some might have forgotten how their office and their colleagues look like ! Learning is a continuous, life-long process. To stay agile, active and updated, reskilling, relearning, upskilling are most essential. Yes, in the absence of profitability, expenses on Training head of account may appear big for some bosses or HR or Finance HODs, but then this expense should be considered as investment for future. Ultimately this investment leads to higher productivity, profitability and ROI. Best wishes

In the present days it is not possible to conceive of any organisation which does not give training. To state that training is given lesser importance is a subjective opinion depending on the eye of the beholder. The pandemic situation is unprecedented and no organisation was prepared for it. Before we could realise the enormity of it, it was already on and sweeping everything and everyone that came its way. So nobody could really train their people for it. In deed an athlete who regularly practices his item is better prepared than an off and on practitioner. So any organisation which gives adequate importance for regular training of its employees will have some advantages over others, since it will have the wherewithal to deal with the situation.
Future is worrisome to all, particularly for those in the manufacturing, tourism, transport, F&B industry etc. With covid situation showing no signs of reducing, the sectors of economy where group working is involved is still keeping their fingers crossed. Those whose nature of job allows them the freedom of FWH are in a better position to cope with the situation.
As Diwakar Sir has rightly pointed cost cutting and increasing productivity are going to be the main focus areas in the post covid situation.

As per my view, in fact covid-19 will brings new opportunities for training and trainers. IF you see globally, every country, every field are now a days learning new techniques for e.g. 1) how to handle pandemic 2) how to survive in business 3) how to teach online 4) how to learn online 4) how to administration the curb 5) how to prevent the disease 6) webinars are organized 7) New travel guidelines people has to learn etc. etc.
This all indicates that after the pandemic is over, new era for learning and training is began, but it obvious for cost cutting initiative at all level is expecting in a sustainable manner.

As rightly pointed out, pandemic Covid-19 is bringing a new chapter for Training & Development amongst employees and employers; (1) financial management (both for employer and employee at the grass root level),(2) importance of cleanliness and hygienity (3) How to curb unnecessary and unwanted expenditure (both for employer and employees at grass root level) or cost cutting (4) How to optimize the resources 5) Importance of physical exercise, yoga, breathing exercises. 6) Good personal traits, etiquette, code of conduct etc (7) To achieve the ability to lead a happy and healthy life commensurate to the monthly income - to cite a few areas.
The above areas are very important management subjects where experts can share their experience - during this Covid-19 time.
Now lot of Webinars are organized by many management associations of repute like
NIPM, CII etc. where the target group of audience can view the program at any place of their convenience.

Dear All,

Post covid scenario, the accontability of HR fraternity will be high to bring back the skill/competence set and their level of engagement. Therefore the focus on Quality of product/ service, lead time / delevery time and cost of product/ service will a effective role to inhance the bottom line of our businesses. This will be acheived by trainig to all human resource irrespective of their levels. On the basis of my experience and exposure, I will suggest for some training programmes as under, since some employees are working from home or not working on shop floor and bearing economical and emotional losses:-

1. Shoft skill development programmes - Employees moral, Positive Thinking, Role of an Employee in Productivity Improvement and way of life after COVID19.

2. Skill set/ Competence

3. Cost Reduction Management(CRM)

4. Employee's Role in Nation Building

training of what?
if the establishment is engaged in healthcare or related services or supply then training is already in progress on day to day basis. balance establishments have no such bindings or obligations, but they have to make aware their employees of preventive measures and cares, which can be displayed at major visible places of the office floor, through awareness posters.
employer has to ensure of their safety, enough ventilation, proper sanitation of workplace in place of crowded training programs

Hi Shivani & other colleagues,

All the views expressed here on the post revolved mostly around pandemic, lockdown, phases of unlock and training, health & hygene and related sectors. But I wish to drive home few things which we lost sight of.

1. Many establishmens found alternatives to manage the situation by WFH wherever possible;

2. Worst suffered during the pandemic are-production industry, education, hospitality, transportation, entertainment, unorganised workforce and so on.

3. Even trading picking gradually up in the recent unlock spells.

4. The lull in the economic activity cannot be attributed entirely on pandemic but stretched over long period as pointed out by Mr.Dinesh which has been indicated in gradual fall in GDP from over the 9% plus now down to - 24%.

5. Pandemic is not expected to last long going by WHO's predictions that vaccinations will widely be used mid 2021. And hopefully world back to normal by virtue of either herd immunity or vaccinations & use of drugs from 2021.

Therefore there won't be urgent requirement for intensive training regimen in short term as by the time some such programmes are ready normalcy in all sectors and around world could be restored.

What may be required is how to cope up with joblosses, closed business, management of personal & corporate finances and more towards exploring new avenues focusing adaptability of workforce, their psychology for changed business opportunities and so on for the near future say 2021-22. Much would depend how the sectors will have to gear up /coterminous with future strategy of central & state govts addressing the "Economic sustainability"

Can anyone help me on topic for training.
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