Empowering Manual Workers Effectively
Not all employees have desks. And not all employees have regular office jobs. Production workers, construction workers, sales workers, hospitality workers, truck drivers, restaurant workers, health care professionals, and field service representatives are just a few of the many common examples. As well as essential personnel required in emergency or critical situations. The question remains: how do you reach these employees on the job with eLearning? It’s about tailoring offerings to the needs and wants of employees away from the office.
Organizations in certain deskless sectors face unique obstacles in delivering comprehensive training. Workers in this field, for example, may perform specific tasks such as operating machinery, quality control, inventory management, or manual, floor work rather than desk-based roles. This makes traditional online training formats ineffective.
What’s next? Adopting specialized eLearning tools is critical to empowering these employees, closing knowledge gaps, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and compliance.
What’s Happening Now in eLearning for Out-of-Office Workers?
Typically, training libraries are dominated by online courses and digital content. Often, a lot of food is done in computer-based roles but what is currently overlooked is the large number of workers who do not have such a setup.
There are unique barriers to reaching the deskless workforce. For example, these employees may rely on smartphones or personal tablets for training. But this can be frustrating due to varying levels of expertise, lack of access to devices, poor communication, or the absence of chargers and outlets, especially for those who work outdoors.
eLearning often involves self-paced modules, which can be challenging as companies need to ensure that the content is engaging and accessible. Additionally, inconsistent Internet access can hinder continuous learning.
What Needs to Happen?
Investing in accessible and engaging eLearning solutions designed for out-of-office industries can provide significant benefits.
What Are the Benefits of eLearning for Deskless Workers?
1. Accessibility
For employees who are not based in traditional office environments, accessing eLearning can be a challenge due to limited Internet connectivity. However, using eLearning platforms that support offline access, allowing materials to be downloaded and accessed without an active Internet connection, can make training more feasible and effective.
2. Flexibility
eLearning allows employees to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule, which is important for those with irregular working hours. This flexibility is especially important in industries such as construction and manufacturing, where workflows can be unpredictable and demanding.
3. Marriage
eLearning can be more interactive and engaging than traditional classroom settings by incorporating multimedia elements, hands-on activities, and simulations. Employees who are not in the office often benefit from practical and interactive training methods that are relevant to their daily tasks. Interactive modules and gamified content can improve engagement and interest.
4. Maintenance
eLearning supports better knowledge retention by allowing learners to review content at their own pace and focus on relevant information. Activity aids or informational posters integrated into eLearning platforms provide easy-to-digest reminders and reinforce key concepts, aiding long-term retention.
Useful eLearning Applications
On-Site Training
In deskless fields, on-site eLearning is important because of the hands-on nature of the work. Downloadable manuals, safety guides, and instructional videos can be accessed directly from workstations without requiring a constant Internet connection. This approach improves efficiency and reduces dependence on continuous Internet access. Even something as simple as a flyer posted in the restroom can have a huge positive impact on ensuring that important messages reach employees.
Remote Project Sites
Depending on the industry, many employees often work in remote locations with unreliable Internet connections. eLearning resources that can be accessed offline ensure that employees can access the necessary training materials and guidelines regardless of their location, maintaining consistency and quality in training.
Training During Rest Time
Industries that have downtime or breaks between jobs can use these times for productive eLearning. Employees can engage in self-paced learning with downloadable materials, instructional videos, or eBooks on their devices, even when Internet access is not available.
Portable Training Resources
Interactive training modules, simulations, and Virtual Reality (VR) experiences stored on portable devices such as tablets or smartphones allow employees to carry training materials to job sites. This portability makes learning accessible during the commute or during idle moments, encouraging continuous learning opportunities.
Compliance and Safety Training
eLearning is especially important in industries that adhere to strict regulations and safety regulations. Employees can access training modules, instructional videos, and safety guidelines offline, ensuring they are familiar with industry regulations. The tools enable organizations to create, update, modify, and distribute security training materials, fostering collaboration and ensuring that content remains current and aligned with organizational goals.
Four Important Things You Should Know
- In industries where remote workers are common, such as manufacturing and construction, eLearning offers a more accessible, flexible, and engaging way to train employees.
- By addressing the unique challenges these employees face, eLearning solutions close knowledge gaps and equip employees with the practical skills and compliance knowledge needed for their jobs.
- Organizations that invest in eLearning tools can cultivate a culture of continuous learning and compliance, ultimately improving productivity, safety, and employee satisfaction.
- As the workforce continues to evolve, combining both online and offline eLearning methods will be important to meet the diverse training needs of all employees.
Final thoughts
eLearning is essential for training non-office workers, providing accessibility, flexibility, engagement, and improved retention. By using eLearning techniques, organizations can ensure that their employees are well equipped to meet the demands of their role, maintain compliance, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and safety.
Deskless workers must not be left behind and training opportunities for those doing non-traditional jobs abound. It’s about increasing awareness of what’s possible, and why a new approach is needed.
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