Tips on launching an upskilling initiative the right way

With employee attrition and turnover high, more organizations are working to integrate learning and development initiatives into employee growth strategies. This presents an opportunity for communicators to make sure those efforts are rolled out holistically and tactfully.

Last month during Ragan’s Employee Experience and Wellness Conference in Denver, Ragan Content Director Jess Zafarris moderated a discussion about upskilling with Carrie McKnight, senior director of people communications at PwC, Steve Winkel, senior director of talent, development and engagement at Constant Contact, and Kabira Ferrell, EVP of corporate reputation at Ketchum.

Here’s what we learned.

Ferrell sees upskilling as a key driver of employee satisfaction — but only if it’s done in tandem with addressing workloads. “The number one thing you can do to address the employee experience and employee wellbeing is to address the work,” she said.

“Because if we don’t have sustainable workloads for our employees, training becomes just another thing on a to-do list that no one gets done at the end of the day anyway.”

Ferrell recommended: