« Centacare Employment and Training, Western Australia
Staff retention rates set to increase with WELL program
Run by Centacare Employment and Training (CET), the Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) Program assists employees with their English language literacy and numeracy in a workplace environment, thus increasing promotion rates internally and diminishing the cost of replacing staff when employees resign.
The WELL program also caters for a host of other employee training including computer literacy, OH&S, developing excellent communication skills in addition to industry relevant training programs.
Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Manager for CET, Pat Morrison, said the WELL program was a fantastic initiative for WA businesses that have a need for improved language, literacy and numeracy in the workplace.
"WELL targets companies whose workers would benefit greatly from improving their language, literacy and numeracy skills so their employment is not jeopardised and they have future promotion prospects within an organisation. It may be that the employees' first language is not English, or that they didn't finish school which is why their writing and comprehension skills may be below average, but either way the WELL program will help both the employee and the organisation."
"The program is highly beneficial to organisations because it fulfils their commitment to staff development, provides staff with opportunities for personal development which enhances working skills and also improves internal communication and understanding among a culturally diverse employee group."
"Research indicates* that every resignation can cost a company up to 150% of the departing employee's gross salary when you take into account recruitment costs, training expenses, loss of intellectual propery and diminished productivity. The WELL program is a way of minimising this cost whilst at the same time providing a benefit to the company, and perhaps more importantly, the employee," says Pat Morrison.
The WELL program is available to any WA organisation which can demonstrate a need for language, literacy and numeracy in the workplace.
ENDS
* Research by Human Resources company, Mercer. http://www.mintrac.com.au/files/other_content/Kerry%20Johnson.pdf