Why do employers spend less money and time training new employees for their jobs compared to 30 years ago?

Question

I have been working at two seperate jobs now (both call centers). One was at a call center for a law firm and that only lasted one week. The training was only one week and didn't go very smoothly. It seems that companies here in Texas are training people less and less. A majority of the time new employees really don't know what to do on the job. It seems that training new employees is not a top priority of companies these days compared to 30 years ago and are spending less money on that training to cut costs. My question is why is this trend happening and is there any way of changing it so employees know what their job functions and roles are and know what to do on the job? Is this in other sectors too? I am now working in a call center and it is related to DSL and the internet and they only train new employees for a week and it only lasts 20 hours and they pay very cheap and expect people to pretty much be a network technician when they are completed. Why do employers do this?

News Update: My company (a call center) told me they have a high turnover rate too, doesn't really suprise me since training is so fast. I am working and I have a disability and that is a shock here in Texas since those with sight impairments face a 90% unemployment rate here in this state. The main reasons are employers, state beauracracies/agencies, and most importantly Transportation. Remember this is a Bush (R) state and nobody in Texas knows how to drive and that is why there are so many wrecks and fatalities here.

Answer 1

Training costs money, and low-level jobs like yours experience high turn over rates.

Answer 2

Because even blue collared jobs are being staffed with new college grads these days. Why spend time and money training an employee on new technology, when they can get a 22 year old fresh out of school, with a network administration degree? Plus someone with real world responsibilities may actually want a higher salary than those still living w/mom & dad working either to pay off student loans or for beer money. Fiscally, they see it as win-win; they cut back they're training budget and weed out candidates expecting the higher end of the pay scale because they don't have the know-how to succeed.

Sadly those of us that are still young, don't have 10 years+ experience, aren't finished college yet, but actually have a family to support are stuck. If I see one more ad for a receptionist that requires a Bachelor's degree I may scream.

Answer 3

I think they assume people can "get the swing of things" on their own sometimes, and that's just not the case. When you start a new job, it's kind of like entering high school all over again. You have to figure out where everything is, who everyone is, and of course, which groups you will fit in with. That's all before you even begin to take on any work. I think employers should spend more time in the first few days getting employees comfortable with their surroundings and explaining exactly what is expected, allowed, and frowned upon. Then you will feel better equiped to handle the JOB you were hired to do.

Answer 4

Listen Buddy, Employers all around now prefer to recruit young guys and gals. They kinda take you like 'Use & Throw'. They get the labour force very cheap, especially from India. And you may be knowing that most of the call-center projects are getting out-sourced to India. and mainly to Bangalore in India. (The point here is not that they are more able, but because they are available in abundance, and do the same work for very low wages.) (What one guy gets the money as the salary in USA or UK, in India, roughly 10 people together get that amount as the salary)
The employers churn out the most productive years of your life, and then throw you away.. that's the way it works. Only those who have the genes to remain at their prefered positions will survive. The employers play a very dirty game with the world, coz they too need to survive.
The only way for you to hang on in there is that you need to prove your worth in the company... Wishing you all the best for your future

Answer 5

Yes, that is the current trend. However as call centers go, singular has an EXTENSIVE training program. New hires sit through six weeks of training, and then have additional training most days of the week for the first few months. In response to your question, though, employers are constantly looking for ways to trim any costs that they can, and many of them see training as one of those areas...

Answer 6

well, it really depends on the turnover rate within the business. Why would you want to spend a huge amount of money for the person to quit? Here I train my desk clerks for three days or one week. Because my turnover rate is about 3 - 6 months for that person of work before they decide to quit..

Answer 7

its very prevalent in most industries and the bottom line reason i think is because they want immediate result and profits right away, they don't care about quality they like quantity it is sad but it is true, that why workers productivity is way, way low in this country...it is the norm rather than the exception.

Answer 8

greed.