Out of necessity since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, there has been a steep upward trend in remote and hybrid work. According to Gallup, approximately 40 percent of remote-capable employees have shifted from working entirely onsite to either a hybrid or remote-only work environment. Even more telling, leaders of large companies confirm that hybrid work is here to stay: 80 percent of chief human resource officers from Fortune 500 companies report they do not plan to decrease remote work flexibility in 2024.
Remote and hybrid work and training provide more opportunities for employees from around the world, which in turn presents a chance for greater collaboration and innovation. Remote training can use written content, pre-recorded audio or video episodes, and live online training. It takes a conscious effort to support remote workers as much as you support onsite employees, but it’s worth it as workers allowed flexible working arrangements are often more productive than those working only onsite.
Benefits of Remote Training
There are several benefits to providing remote training for employees, such as:
- Boosts employee productivity
- Decreases costs versus in-person training
- Improves knowledge retention
- Personalizes the training experience, when tailored to individual needs
- Improves employee retention rate
Challenges of Remote Training
There can be challenges in the remote training experience as well, including:
- Lack of face-to-face interaction might be perceived as impersonal
- Lack of access to coworkers and information can cause communication issues
- Distractions at home are a possible pitfall
- Technical challenges must occasionally be dealt with
Preparation for Remote Employee Training
It is important to establish clear remote-work policies and to have in place a solid structure for training remote employees. According to a TalentLMS survey, 67 percent of remote workers say they need their employers to provide more training. And Zippia says 45 percent of workers would stay longer at a company that invested in their learning and development.
Best Remote Training Tools
Whether you’re providing new or existing staff with skills training, you need effective tools to do so. Many companies use online training and development software to remotely train employees. Some of the most widely used workforce training tools are:
- Learning management systems (LMS) such as Canvas or Blackboard, where learners can access course materials assigned and tracked by course admins.
- Learning experience platforms (LEP or LXP) such as EdCast and LemonadeLXP, where learners can choose their own path from personalized courses offered by admins.
- Video training tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, where teams can meet and learn from a live presenter or previously recorded meeting sessions.
- Project management tools such as Trello or Asana, where learners can track, assess, and collaborate with others about their educational journey.
- Communication tools such as Slack (or those integrated into your other LMS, LXP, Teams, etc.) are essential to keeping the team connected
Key Takeaways
If you don’t have clear remote-work policies and a solid training structure, create them as soon as you can. There is a variety of tools available for skills training; be sure to pick the one that is right for your needs. Remember that employees are happier – and stay longer – at companies that invest in their training and development.
Properly trained remote employees are valuable assets in today’s world. As a natural result, remote employee training is essential to remaining competitive. The benefits to employees and employers alike include increased productivity, employee morale and retention, and much more.
Do you need to upgrade your employee training but don’t know where to start? Contact MATC Group! We are experts in creating a variety of trainings and our experienced instructional designers are waiting to develop training perfect for your situation.
Related Blogs
Working From Home: 5 Tips to Help Separate Your Work Life from Your Personal Life
How to Stay Motivated in a Growing World of Remote Working
Why Your Working Environment Matters
Resources
Flynn, Jack. “35 Key Employee Training and Development Statistics [2023]: Data + Trends. Zippia. 3/9/23. Accessed 3/20/24. https://www.zippia.com/employer/employee-training-development-statistics/
Jay, S. “8 Best Practices for Remote Training at Your Organization.” 9/4/21. Accessed 3/14/24. https://www.aihr.com/blog/remote-training/
Revanth. 4/30/20. Accessed 3/14/24. https://www.talentlyft.com/en/blog/article/382/10-best-practices-for-training-remote-employees.
Roberts, B. “LMS VS LXP for 2021.” 9/15/21. Accessed 3/15/24. https://learn.filtered.com/thoughts/lms-vs-lxp
Wigert, Ben, Jim Harter, and Sangeeta Agrawal. “The Future of the Office Has Arrived: It’s Hybrid.” Gallup. 10/9/23. Accessed 3/20/24. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/511994/future-office-arrived-hybrid.aspx#
Zoe, E. “How to train remote employees: The training topics and tools you need.” 3/26/20. Accessed 3/20/24. https://www.talentlms.com/blog/how-to-train-remote-employees-the-training-topics-and-tools-you-need/
