Companies are not investing in training for part time and job share workers according to a new survey.
The study, which questioned training and HR managers, showed that part-timers were least likely to receive in-house or external training and represented well under 10% of the total number of delegates selected for training.
The next most under-represented groups in the training stakes are the over 50s and manual staff accounting for just over 10% of those receiving training followed by admin staff accounting for up to 20% of recipients. Interestingly while part time workers and admin staff - who are likely to be women - don’t appear to have their fair share of training, women in full time, non admin jobs make up well over 50% of those on training programmes.
Despite a number of groups not receiving training the survey, by PTP Training and Marketing, showed that 57% of companies claimed to provide training for nine out of ten staff and 37% said they had a higher training budget this year compared to last.
Half the companies surveyed said they provided one to three days of training per average employee per year.
Just under 30% offered four to six days and over one in ten generously give more than 10 days training per year. However when asked if the training provision was adequate for improved performance in a company, 30% admited it wasn’t.
Of those respondents all said they would like to see a minimum of four days training per average employee per year.
‘Increased motivation’ was cited by a third of the sample as the key benefit derived from training followed by ‘improved confidence’.
Interestingly only 2% used training as a carrot to retain staff. Other key benefits mentioned cover ‘improved skills’ and ‘positive impact on business’.
The traditional management, IT and sales programmes were also seen as having the most benefit for both staff and business over programmes such as communications or presentation delivery.
Marc Holland, managing director of PTP Training and Marketing voiced concern over the results.
"To not train a group of people on the basis that they work fewer hours is unfair and counterproductive," he said.
"No matter how many hours an employee works their skills, motivation and productivity can all be enhanced through relevant training. If most companies in our survey agree staff should have at least 4-days training a year then a part-timer should receive at least a pro-rata investment. “
