Key Tools for Human Resource Management (Collection)

Chapter 11. Costs and Benefits of HR Development Programs

Organizations in Europe, the United States, and Asia spend billions each year on employee training—more than $125 billion in the U.S. alone. At the level of the individual firm, Google is exemplary. It offers each employee 100 hours of professional development training per year.¹ These outlays reflect the cost of keeping abreast of technological and social changes, the extent of managerial commitment to achieving a competent and productive workforce, and the broad array of opportunities available for individuals and teams to improve their technical skills and their social skills. Indeed, the large amount of money spent on training in both public and private organizations is likely to ...