There’s a mantra in the service industry that goes something like this: “If you’re not serving the customer directly, you better be serving someone who is.” The quality of service your customers receive is often directly tied to your employees’ satisfaction with their jobs. There’s a lot you can do to improve morale, but at the very core of the issue is creating a positive environment for everyone on your staff.
Human Resources Training for Convenience Stores
It’s not enough for you to be trained on human resources issues yourself. Your staff needs to be trained, too. Providing human resources training not only clarifies employee responsibilities, it also shows that the company is committed to creating and maintaining a positive work environment. What should your HR training include? Here are a few must haves:
- Sexual harassment training. Sexual harassment affects all aspects of the workplace. It is harmful, hostile, and creates an intimidating and difficult working environment. Employees need to know what sexual harassment is, the company’s zero tolerance policy against it, and how it can be prevented.
- Diversity training. Changing demographics and a growing global marketplace have created a workforce that is culturally diverse. Training employees on diversity will help employees be sensitive to cultural differences and celebrate diversity. Employees need to know their legal obligations, the company’s policies against discrimination, and how to improve cross-cultural communication.
- Training to prevent and respond to violence. Workplace violence can be a problem in any industry, and especially so in service jobs that involve the exchange of cash and late night hours where employees may be working alone. Employees must be trained to protect themselves against potential violence and prepared to respond if violence does occur.
- FMLA training. The Family Medical Leave Act is an important part of employees’ rights, created to help employees maintain a work life balance. Employees need to know what the FMLA is, how it pertains to them, their responsibilities with regard to the law, and the steps they must take to apply for leave.
- Training on health coverage options. Employees who don’t qualify for company sponsored healthcare coverage are eligible for policies purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. Employees need to know how to access the Marketplace and their responsibilities for purchasing their own healthcare coverage.
When training employees on important HR topics, consistency and tracking are crucial. All employees must receive the same information, be assessed on their understanding, and have their progress tracked.
