ABOUT
Most employees will participate in some level of professional development throughout their careers which research is beginning to show can also have a positive impact on staff well-being. Different types of training are more or less likely to produce a positive change in well-being with training on specific techniques to promote personal resources for well-being being most effective while training focused on addressing professional abilities is less likely (but still may) promote well-being. This suggests that workplace productivity does not have to compete with worker well-being and alignment between the two is possible.
The method of training or professional development itself may also help to foster employee well-being. Team or “unit” training opportunities may offer social support to staff in addition to the learning itself. This may provide additional opportunities to develop trust, safety, and communication among staff having benefits in other realms of well-being.
Notes About this Intervention
- Many organizations may already have resources allotted to staff training so considering how these trainings focus on staff well-being or how they can support staff well-being could be a helpful approach. However, with the shift to online work during COVID-19, there are many low-cost training and professional development options available online.
- Based on Job Demand-Resource Theory.