There are compelling reasons for business owners to make sure workplace literacy is at an acceptable level. Employees and their managers may be getting the job done but it is important to verify that their communication, numeracy and literacy skills are up to par.
Elizabeth Steer has advice for any business owner who thinks these skills are irrelevant. Steer works for the Centre for Smart Business at WelTec Connect and she knows what can happen when employees have limited communication skills. According to her, this increases the risk of instructions being misunderstood and mistakes being made. Money is lost because work often has to be redone when the proper procedures are not followed. The biggest problem is the fact that employees are unable to solve problems when they arise.
?Sometimes companies know there is a problem with low levels of literacy or numeracy levels among their employees but are not sure where to start to improve these skills. This is where WelTec Connect can help ? have a chat with us about what a Workplace Communication Training Programme could do for your business.?
This training is also suitable for those people in management positions who face the same literacy challenges. Massey University?s Frank Sligo has identified a need for this training at the management level in many New Zealand companies. India and China are two countries where managers are actively working to improve literacy skills.
If New Zealand companies hope to compete in the international market, Sligo believes there needs to be an emphasis on increasing print literacy levels at the management level. Companies worldwide are globally connected and keeping up with the competition is more complicated than ever as workers become more sophisticated and creative.
Studies worldwide also show that by increasing an individual?s literacy, communication and numeracy skills, you not only have a beneficial effect on that person?s self-esteem and confidence, but you change their attitudes to their own abilities which opens the door to increased learning.
Raise the literacy, speaking and numeracy skills across your workforce and overall, morale and productivity can improve too.
The programme offered by WelTec can be customised to suit any company?s specific needs. Training courses start at the most basic levels of reading and writing and go all the way up to advanced report writing techniques. Computer skills may also be addressed. Employees have a chance to improve the specific skills needed to advance in the business.
Initial assessments (using a national assessment tool) are carried out with each individual before the programme starts and again on completion of the programme. Overall there is about a 90% success rate in gaining a noticeable improvement in literacy, communication and numeracy skills.
Scheduling is flexible to accommodate work shifts and tutors are carefully matched with students and their abilities to ensure success. Some tutors are specially trained to work with employees who speak English as a second language.
The Tertiary Education Commission will pay for this WelTec programme through the Workplace Literary Fund for employees who need and apply for financial assistance. Factory workers, Wellington Hospital employees and caregivers are just some of the groups who have participated in this training programme with success.
One innovative programme was created specifically for former rugby players to provide them with the skills necessary to begin a new career after retirement.
Business owners can take a look at this online test (http://www.skillshighway.govt.nz/indicator-tool_page10.html) to see if their employees meet the necessary standards for communication, writing and math skills.
Talk to Elizabeth Steer for more information about a programme for your employees for increasing workplace literacy, communication and numeracy skills.
Do you want to improve the literacy and numeracy of your employees? Then visit www.weltecconnect.co.nz for more information and improve productivity in your workplace.
Source: http://articlesobsessed.com/business/the-importance-of-improving-workplace-literacy
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