Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

Rex Davenport at the Training and Development blog reports about the training of employees at a newly opening plant of Tyson Food in Texas. 

In an excellent look at how workplace and personal lives entwine, he say this:

“I am reminded of the power of learning. In addition to all of the skills needed to operate equipment and assure the safety of people and the products they make, the new employees are exposed to an entire program of how to deal with issues that come up when the workplace and their personal lives collide.” 

According to the article: “Rudy Zinsmeister, human resources director for most Tyson plants in Texas , said the Third Day training includes financial literacy. Employees learn about issues that affect their credit and what resources are available to help them buy a home. They learn how their 401k benefit plan works and what investment opportunities are available to them.”

“It comes across as much more detailed than anything else I’ve ever seen,” said Tom Russell of Pottsboro, who will work in production. “Lots of companies, you come in and they say, ‘Here’s what you do.’ and that’s it. This training is step-by-step. They give you the information you need. They give you a lot of attention and a lot of just solid information.”

Ronda Segich of Sherman, a production team member, said she enjoyed the detailed nature of the training.

“They are such sticklers for our safety and for the cleanliness of the plant. They impressed me; the rules and the policies for cleanliness.” 

It was refreshing to read how the training affected the employees and how management not only taught on what would benefit the company, but how they focused on the employees safety, really understanding their jobs and how the benefits of the job could be used for their fullest benefit.  

In contrast to the usual lack of purpose, boredom and irrelevancy of many training programs out there, it was good to see an example of how to start things right.