You should be paid more for training new employees in your organization, but only under very specific circumstances. It would be best if you did not ask for a raise or extra money as soon as you are asked to train new employees.
Many organizations provide training to new employees after hiring them. Even if the new employees have all the relevant experience and technical knowledge, they still need to learn about certain things specific to the company. These aspects make the organization stand out from the rest and help create its unique brand.
However, the responsibility of training the new employees usually falls on the senior members of the organization. The trainees are expected to learn on the job. In contrast, the trainers are expected to teach by setting an example while working.
On the other hand, the trainers might be requested to allot a specific time during work hours to train new employees. That depends on the sector one is working in and the industry to which one belongs.
Many factors must be considered before you ask your employers for extra pay if they ask you to train new employees. Let us look at the various aspects.
What is On the Job Training?
“On the job” training, also known as shadowing, is training new employees to help them integrate within a specific organization and teach them how things are done.
There is a debate about whether the senior employees who are asked to train the novices should be paid more for the extra effort they put in during the training.
However, if you find yourself in such a position, you should wait to ask for a pay raise immediately if you are asked to train new employees. Instead, consider this an added role you are taking on and which you can leverage later when it is time for your promotions. You are negotiating a higher salary after gaining enough experience in the organization.
In most cases, senior employees are expected to take on training responsibilities in addition to their work and projects, which might initially seem cumbersome. However, you will learn a lot and gather valuable skills that will help you later in your career.
After all, it is right when they say that teaching is the best form of learning and you will have the edge over your coworkers when it is time for promotions and increments.
Moreover, if your boss asks you to train new employees, do not consider it an added burden. Instead, please take it as a mark of appreciation. Your boss would only ask this of you because they consider you as one of the most competent employees, and that would be another feather in your cap.
How to Know if You Will Be Asked to Train New Employees?
The best way to understand whether you will be asked to train new employees is to go through company policies. You can review the contract you signed during joining to read about the additional responsibilities you may be asked to take up.
Or, you could speak to HR about it. Usually, senior professionals are expected to take it in their stride. However, if the training takes up much of your schedule and could hinder your primary job responsibilities, you should also speak to your boss or HR about it.
In most cases, they will tell you to go at your own pace. Conduct the training at your convenience, which is why many senior employees are alright about taking up training responsibilities. You can delegate tasks to the juniors accordingly and check in on them from time to time.
Factors You Should Consider if You Ask for a Raise to Train New Employees
As mentioned earlier, you should never ask for a raise immediately when you are asked to train new employees. This is something you should carry on with your regular responsibilities. However, you can consider some factors if you think you should be given a raise for training new employees.
1. Number of Hours
Firstly, you should only consider asking for increased pay during your promotion or when your next increment is due. You can leverage your training skills and negotiate with your employers for a better raise.
However, you should only do that if you have spent quite a few hours training new employees. If you have just spent a couple more hours per week, or if the training period was just for a month or so, you should not even bring it up.
Think about when you were new to the organization and how you were trained. Did someone put in extra hours to train you or supervise you while you were working? This will give you an idea about what is expected of you; if it is too little, you will be expected to carry on in the same way.
Hence, unless you have had to prepare for the training separately or you had to put in lots of extra effort, do not ask for a raise.
2. Extra Hours After Shift
You can ask for increased pay if you are asked to stay back after your shift to train new employees. This depends entirely on you. Is it a one-time thing, and you have only stayed back for one or two days?
Or, has your boss asked you to stay back consistently for a couple of hours for quite a few weeks or months for the training? In such cases, you are working overtime and should be asked to be compensated for the extra hours.
3. Risk of Injury
Depending on the sector and industry you work in, if there is a risk of injury while training new employees, you can ask for extra pay and insurance to train the new employees. You can also insist on signing a contract about compensation if you are injured during the training.
Usually, organizations will only hire certified trainers if there is a risk of injury while training new employees. Nevertheless, some bosses try to go around that by asking the seniors to do it instead. You must consider the risks, and if you agree to take on the training, you can ask for extra pay.
4. Scale of Your Organization
It would be best if you considered the scale of your organization while asking for extra pay. Is your company a small start-up just trying to find its footing?
In that case, they might not be able to pay you more for training new employees because they will probably not have the resources to do so. However, they might compensate later with some perk or a bonus.
On the other hand, if you are part of a large organization and are asked to train an entire batch of recruits, you may ask for additional pay during your next promotion.
After all, training a new batch is very different from supervising a couple of novices, and you might even be held accountable for any mistakes they make. You must take your training tasks seriously and devote enough time and effort to prepare them for the organization. This will take a lot of time, and you can ask for a raise.
5. Quality of Training
There are various modes and methods of providing training. Depending on how you render those services, you may consider asking for a raise. If you are preparing additional material, holding workshops, making presentations, and also checking on the recruits, then it is evident that you have put in a lot of extra effort.
You are providing high-quality training, and you should note it. Check whether it has been included in your performance report, and you can leverage this to ask for extra pay later.
You will slowly emerge as someone the organization can fall back on when they need someone to teach new employees, and you could also open a new job role for yourself.
Also Read: 59 Inspirational Quotes About Never Giving Up
What Can Happen if You Refuse to Train New Employees?
Several things may happen if you do not want to take on training responsibilities and much of it depends on your boss and your company policy.
Some employers will do the courtesy of asking you whether you want to take on training responsibilities. They will tell you what it would entail and how much time and effort you will be expected to put in. They will also mention whether you will be paid extra for your time and effort, which can help you make a more informed decision.
If your company policies do not specifically mention taking on additional responsibilities or training, you may refuse to train new employees. After all, not everyone can become a good teacher, even if they are excellent employees. If you think you do not have what it takes to become a trainer, you can say so.
On the other hand, some bosses are rigid and have a more conventional mindset. They might take your refusal as an affront and might even be offended. If your workplace is similarly rigid in its views, you may come across as uncooperative. It might show that you are not a team player, and it might even go on your work report.
Before refusing to take on your training tasks, you must consider all these factors.
Can Your Boss Fire You If You Refuse to Train New Recruits?
Yes, you may be fired by your boss if training new employees is a part of your contract and you refuse to go through with it. Sometimes, the contract states that you will agree to take on extra responsibilities, which could be training new employees.
Moreover, even if there is nothing specific about training new employees, once you refuse the request, you will be seen as non-cooperative. No one likes that in an employee. Even if you are not fired, it will create a negative impact, and you may have to face the consequences later during a promotion.
Also Read: Does Getting Fired Go On Your Record?
Who Should Ideally Train New Employees?
The company policy mostly answers the question of who will train the new employees. Large companies have a specific onboarding procedure, and the new employees are trained accordingly.
The difficulty may arise when there is no specific policy, and it depends on you how you would handle the situation. Sometimes, the managers and senior staff members take up the joint responsibility of training new employees if they do not have the additional resources to hire dedicated trainers.
Why Must You Consider Training New Employees?
Although training new employees might seem stressful initially, you may start thinking about it differently once you consider the long-term benefits. Yes, you will have to go through some rescheduling to fit in the training work. Sometimes the ineptitude of the novices might even seem frustrating, but here is why you should consider it.
1. Hone Your Leadership Skills
Training new employees is an excellent way to hone your leadership skills. You will benefit from training new employees if you are eyeing a managerial position someday.
Not only you will learn about task delegation and staff management, but your seniors will notice how you handle the new crop. They will keep this in mind when it is time for promotions and has a senior position to fill.
2. Get to Know the Senior Members
Training recruits are not just about working with juniors. You will also have ample scope to mingle with the senior staff members. In the initial days of the training, you may have doubts and need some advice and guidance on dealing with juniors, and your seniors are the best people to help with that.
They have hands-on experience and will be able to provide you with the insight needed for training. In the process, you will get to know them better and also develop a closer working relationship.
3. Build Your Team
If you want to become a manager someday, it is essential to keep an eye out for talent. You might find yourself in a position sometime in the future when you can choose your team.
Your knowledge of the trainees will give you an edge. Also, you can pick the best talents to be on your team and keep preparing the others to handle more responsibility. You will not only ensure your growth but will also secure the future of those you trained.
4. Fulfilling Experience
Lastly, being a mentor and teacher can be a highly fulfilling experience and cannot be measured in remuneration alone. When the recruits walk up to you and thank you for everything you taught them during the training session, it is one of the best feelings ever.
You will feel immense joy in taking on this responsibility and will be glad this opportunity came your way.
Conclusion
Training new employees in a proper manner will eventually work for the organization’s benefit, which means it will also benefit you. If you look at the overall expansion and want the organization to do well, you must ensure that the recruits understand their job well.
It will eventually lead to the growth of your organization, and you will also enjoy the perks. Hence, it is best to think about something other than the immediate pay hike when you are asked to train new employees. Instead, focus on the experience; you will reap the benefits one day.
