Admin's Assistant

What is cross training and is it effective?

It seems like every organization has times when a few employees struggle to keep up with their workload while others find themselves with a bit too much free time. These kinds of problems and many others are often solved with a little cross training.

So what is cross training? According to the online article, Cross Training Employees, writer F. John Reh says, “Cross training is training an employee to do a different part of the organization’s work. Training worker A to do the task that worker B does and training B to do A’s task is cross training.” Cross training can help employees learn new job skills, making them more valuable to the company, and can help prevent worker boredom.

Training staff to perform functions outside their regular roles is a win-win situation for the company and the employees. The company benefits from a more equitable distribution of the workload and an improved ability to manage unexpected absences. In the process of training employees, jobs become more standardized; and as employees gain a new, wider perspective, they learn to make better decisions and often eliminate unnecessary and outdated processes.

Employees also “win” by getting valuable experience in areas for which they were not originally hired. Morale can also improve as workers gain a renewed sense of pride and ownership in their company.

To start a cross-training program, first work out a timeline for completing realistic goals, and determine how much it will cost in additional labor to train your staff. Consider who should be in charge of the training and who will be trained. Schedule cross training during relatively slow periods, so the trainer has enough time to explain each task.

Make sure that your employees understand that this cross training is an opportunity for them to learn and to advance in their careers. Be careful that they don’t feel like you’re just doubling up their work. Consider sending out an e-mail to see who’s interested instead of making it a requirement.

Cross training can be a challenge for both management and staff, but in the long run, the improved morale and productivity will make it all worth it.

Has your company started a cross-training program? Did you find it beneficial?