One thing that remains constant in business is the ever-changing need to stay competitive and relevant. Successful business owners recognize this and look for ways to invest wisely and prudently in every aspect of their company, from technical infrastructure to sound accounting practices. It has also become significantly important to invest in and develop a robust workforce. This is a concern for companies of all sizes, but especially for those who are small- to mid-size, in order to thrive.
To take it one step further, forward-thinking business owners know that strong leadership is required from their management team to oversee the complexities of today’s workplace and ensure their employees are engaged and productive. Astute CEOs recognize that there are many benefits, both tangible and intangible, which contribute to the overall success of their company. They also know that none of this happens by chance.
Many Massachusetts businesses are not aware that there is a program through which they may be eligible to train their managers and employees for free. Through the Workforce Training Fund Program (WFTP) Express Grant, businesses with fewer than 100 employees can get reimbursed by the state for the full cost of certain training courses. They just have to complete an application at least twenty-one (21) days before the class, pay one of the WFTP-approved training providers, take the course, and then submit for reimbursement. There are limits of $3,000.00 per employee and $20,000.00 per company in a calendar year. (NOTE: Non-profits that do not pay into the unemployment fund are not eligible. Companies must submit their certificate of good standing from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue to be approved to participate.) For a training program that is essentially free to business owners and companies, the only expenditure is the time managers and/or employees take to attend the class.
With over 25 years of experience conducting these types of training, Ross Insight Solutions is an approved training provider under the Workforce Training Fund Program. They offer a list of timely and topical courses, which generally run one to two hours in length and are eligible for reimbursement. These include:
- Discrimination and Harassment Prevention – Course ID C-8644
- Absence Management & Time Off: State and Federal (This course focuses on paid time off (PTO), leaves of absences, and other related topics.) – Course ID C-8645
- Hiring for Success – Course ID C-8762
- Performance Management (This course focuses on goal setting, performance evaluations, corrective action, terminations, and other related topics.) – Course ID C-8646
- Total Rewards (This course focuses on compensation, benefits, rewards and recognition programs.) – Course ID C-9706
- Career Development, Mentoring, and Succession Planning – Course ID C-9708
- Workplace Compliance & Record Keeping – Course ID C-9709
- Workplace Flexibility, Wellness & Safety – Course ID C-9772
- Learning & Development – Course ID C-9773
To find these courses through Ross Insight Solutions, please visit the Training page of our website: https://rossinsightsolutions.com/training/. Other WFTP resources[1] are listed in the footnote below. Additionally, we are happy to assist you with the grant application process. The courses offered by RIS have been carefully curated to empower and equip managers with the tools they need to be effective and new programs are being added all the time. The long-term benefits to the company and its employees can be seen in employee engagement and retention, enhanced productivity and performance, stronger communication, improved problem-solving and decision-making, and promoting innovation and adaptability.
Speaking to the importance of proper training for managers, the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) recently released guidance underscoring the need for workplace training to prevent discrimination and harassment. They caution that if managers and employees have not been trained by a particular company, there will be higher scrutiny and potential accountability in claims that are filed based on allegations of discrimination or harassment. While Massachusetts and other New England states do not require that employers conduct this training, it would behoove companies to take this action to prevent or minimize liability risks. Because Ross Insight Solutions provides this training through the WFTP, businesses can train their teams and be reimbursed for the cost to do so. To explore further the importance of this particular training, other articles[2] are noted in the footnote.
As a complement to providing training programs on these subjects, Ross Insight Solutions provides consulting services related these topics and many other areas of HR need. As owner, Carolyn Ross, often says, “It’s not enough to train managers if they don’t know have the right programs, policies and tools and know how to use them.” RIS helps companies to ensure they have those important pieces in place. Designed around company-specific needs, from transactional practices such as talent acquisition and compensation and benefits, to more tactical considerations like onboarding, leadership development, and retention, our experience in these areas will position your business on a solid foundation of HR practices. For more information about RIS’ consulting services, please visit the Services page of their website: https://rossinsightsolutions.com/services/. Our proprietary HR Pyramid, below, depicts all of the topics our consulting services cover.
All of the foregoing should reassure business owners that any expenditure of time or money to prioritize training, as well as the implementation of related policies and programs, is far outweighed by long-term benefits. Companies that do this will be in far greater compliance with state and federal employment laws and regulations and the heightened abilities of well-trained managers will allow them to be much more effective in supporting and engaging employees. This goes a long way to transform your business through your people™, and to ensure sustained growth and success.
For more information, please reach out to me at 774-250-5005 or send an email to carolyn@rossinsightsolutions.com.
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[1] Additional Workforce Training Program resources as follows:
Homepage – https://commcorp.org/subprogram/wtfp-express-program/
“For Applicants” (those seeking to take training) – https://commcorp.org/subprogram/wtfp-express-program-for-applicants/
Directory – https://commcorp.org/subprogram/wtfp-express-directory/
Guidelines – https://commcorp.org/subprogram/wtfp-express-program-guidelines/
[2] Links to some articles and EEOC information about the need for companies to be doing training to prevent Discrimination and Harassment:
EEOC Releases Final Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace | Law and the Workplace
