When it comes to working in the hospitality industry, whether it is in a licensed premise or an event, it’s important to ensure you have the right certifications. In fact, if you lack the correct certifications, you might even find it difficult to obtain a job in the hospitality industry. Below, we cover some of the most important certifications to have and the best ways to obtain them.

A Responsible Service of Alcohol Competency Card is considered a necessity for working in the hospitality industry. In fact, you cannot legally work in the hospitality industry in Australia without an RSA Competency Card. This card is mandatory for anyone who is employed in any type of position in any establishment that sells alcohol.

Even if you are a holiday visa holder who only wants to work while on vacation, you will still need an RSA Competency Card. Although the requirements for obtaining this card do vary among states, in most cases, you’ll need to take a training course to learn the current laws regarding alcohol consumption. This type of course will help to ensure you are legally and responsibly able to serve alcohol.

One of the reasons the course requirements differ among states is that the laws regarding the responsible service of alcohol are different among the states. Consequently, you may need to take a different course for each Australian state in which you wish to work.

If you do not have an RSA Competency Card, you could be fined. Each employee is personally liable for having this card if they work in an establishment that serves alcohol. If you are found to be working in such an establishment and you do not have the requisite RSA, you could be fined as much as $440.

While you could take this course in person, you could also take an online course. An online course is often a good option for someone who does not have time to take away from work or other responsibilities to take an in-person course.

If you are interested in entering the coffee profession, there are different avenues available. At one time, becoming a barista was as simple as filling out an application at a location with a “help wanted” sign. Today, there is far more to being a barista, and many people actually make it a profession rather than just simply something to do while working their way through school.

As a respected and often full-time profession, being a barista means that you will need special training. Enrolling in a barista training program will teach you how to grind and brew coffee in addition to a variety of other coffee-based drinks.

In a barista training course, you can also receive instruction on various growing regions for coffee beans, different roasts, and even different grind types. Barista training also usually includes procedures for cash register operation, customer service, and inventory. Fancy Beans and Baristas helps students prepare to find jobs in bistros, coffee shops, and even free-standing coffee kiosks by providing instruction on roast profiles, growing regions, and grind types.

Additionally, this course teaches students about common workflows and other procedures for the job. Prospective baristas will also learn how to steam soy and dairy milks as well as how to use equipment commonly utilized in coffee shops, such as coffee bean grinders and espresso machines.

Individuals who are interested in working in practically any capacity in the hospitality industry would do well to receive food safety training. Whether you are working in a restaurant, food stand, or in some other capacity, it’s important to understand how to minimize contamination. Food hygiene and safety training teaches food handlers the proper techniques for handling, storing, and cleaning food.

Not only do these practices ensure customers do not become ill due to food poisoning or allergic reactions, but they also help to reduce food waste and improve efficiency in the workplace.

One of the biggest concerns in the hospitality industry is cross-contamination. This occurs when food is handled in a way that makes it possible for allergens or bacteria to spread from one area to another. It is essential that cross-contamination is avoided in food settings. Even a minute amount of contamination can result in an allergic reaction or food poisoning. It can be quite easy for salmonella, E. coli, and other bacteria to spread in a food setting. Allergens can be similarly spread.

Proper food handling safety practices can also assist in reducing food waste in eating establishments. For instance, storing food in unsuitable containers, at inappropriate temperatures, and without proper rotation can all result in food waste. Food hygiene training provides instruction regarding how to properly store and organize food. Such practices help to maintain food quality while minimizing waste and saving money. This type of training course also assures that staff understands how to improve efficiency by dividing tasks and preventing errors.

The course Hospitality Plus – Food Safety provides instruction regarding how to implement and follow food safety procedures.

Working in the hospitality industry can offer innumerable benefits, including the opportunity to travel. In order to take advantage of the many rewards offered by working in this industry, it’s important to ensure you have the right certifications. Online training can help you to get the training you need to land the hospitality job you want.

False

Get the right certifications for your next job in hospitality

Seasonal affective disorder, also known as the winter blues, refers to a condition in which people commonly feel sluggish, depressed, and experience levels of low energy during certain seasons. This condition may also be characterized by difficulty sleeping, weight gain, and even trouble concentrating. Such symptoms can frequently cause staff to feel unengaged and less productive. Although trying to beat the winter blues and avoid seasonal slumps can seem like a challenging task, there are some things employers can do to assist their employees in feeling better and more productive.

First, it’s important to understand exactly what Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is and why some people seem to suffer from it. Many experts believe that SAD is the result of a lack of sunlight. This lack of sunlight results in hormonal changes and throw off the body’s natural rhythm. Additionally, people who suffer from this disorder may experience a decrease in serotonin production. This is the chemical in the brain responsible for promoting a good mood and plenty of energy.

Steps Employers Can Take to Battle the Winter Blues and Boost Employee Productivity

There are actually many steps that employers can take to assist their employees in feeling better during the winter months. Employers should set the right tone from the beginning by ensuring they understand how to inspire a motivated workplace. The course Employee Motivation can help management do just that.

Making a few changes to your staff’s immediate work environment can make a difference in how your employees feel. You might be surprised to discover that just a few simple changes can actually help your employees feel more proactive and energized.

A light, bright color scheme combined with a bright and airy setting is ideal, particularly during times when access to natural sunlight is limited. Employers might also wish to consider giving employees time to take a walk outdoors. Even a few minutes of access to fresh air and sunlight can be enough to help employees feel refreshed and invigorated.

When it’s necessary to hold meetings, consider carefully where those meetings are held. The ideal location is in a bright room with a lot of windows and natural sunlight. Doing so can help to increase attention and concentration levels. In situations in which natural light is limited, the next best thing is fluorescent lighting. Some employers have even introduced sun lamps in order to ensure employees have access to light therapy to battle seasonal slumps.

Offering a wellness initiative is a great way to assist employees in making lifestyle changes that will encourage them to make healthier choices. Making just a few changes may be all your employees need to avoid seasonal slumps and boost their efficiency in the workplace.

The effects of the winter blues can be even more complex if your workforce is not taking the time to eat properly. A great way to encourage and even model healthy eating for employees is to provide them with access to fresh, healthy foods. It can be as simple as placing a bowl of oranges in the staff break room.

Employees will certainly appreciate such a thoughtful gesture, and access to a healthy dose of vitamin C can help them feel more energized. Your company might also consider replacing vending machines, which are often laden with unhealthy food choices, with foods that are healthier and fresher.

Give Employees a Daily Mental Health Break

When employees are already feeling stressed because of the winter blues, they need additional opportunities to manage that stress. Giving them the opportunity to dedicate a few minutes each day to journaling or writing is a great way to help them feel more confident, rejuvenated, and ready to work.

You might also wish to consider offering your employees the option to take an online course, such as Time and Stress Management. This course teaches your employees how to achieve a balanced life with time for work as well as relaxation, relationships, and fun.

Encourage Employees to Have a Healthy Balance Between Work and Life

It’s vital to employee productivity and morale that staff members feel as though they have a good balance between work and life. Unfortunately, management often thinks this kind of balance is ultimately up to employees, when in reality, it is the responsibility of management to encourage staff to create a healthy balance.

A few ways to do this include offering options like telecommuting, flexible working hours, and child care services. These options ensure that employees have ample time to enjoy their free time. The course Work Life Balance helps employees explore motivation and priorities.

Encourage Employees to Get Out of the Rut

This is actually a great time to try and shake things up a little and get people thinking about doing things differently. There is no reason to continue doing things the same old way, particularly if they are not producing results. Consider encouraging teamwork among your employees to come with solutions that will boost productivity and morale.

To some degree, feeling a bit of the winter blues is inevitable, but there is no need for it to interfere with employee productivity. Take a proactive approach can help management assist their employees in getting back on track.

How to beat the winter blues and avoid seasonal slumps this winter

Cyber-crime is a really big problem now! But an even bigger problem is that many companies just don’t know it yet, nor understand the likelihood of a cyber breach occurring and its financial impact. And in the fight against cyber-crime, your staff are literally your biggest asset because they are also the hackers biggest target!

So why is cyber-crime so bad now? It’s because an entire worldwide industry has been built around hacking, with the sole purpose of stealing information and money, and most people on the planet are a potential target. We’re not talking about 12-year-olds sitting behind a computer trying to get bragging rights anymore- those days are long gone. We’re now talking about things like organised crime, renting hacking software out to people with no technical skills, and essentially a never-ending supply of hackers trying to scam you for whatever they can, in increasingly ingenious ways.

They have constantly adapted to find the weaknesses and target them, so they’re generally not wasting time trying to crack into your company’s IT systems through your security hardware and software. They now take the easy way out and target staff by doing things like:

Sending out a multitude of trick emails (phishing).

Phoning and pretending to be someone they’re not, gaining trust and manipulating (social engineering).

Walking into your secured office confidently behind someone else and stealing logins, information or hardware (tailgating).

And the big-ticket item here is tricking staff with emails because it can be done in mass volumes, it’s cheap, quick, and successful. Accordingly, up to 85% of cyber security breaches are initiated via staff clicking on something they shouldn’t!

Scary stuff for sure, and frankly if you don’t do something about it you become the soft target. Think of the house on the street with the security doors, window screens and burglar alarm. Too hard,… move on. But the easy target gets burgled, and then it gets burgled again in another month. Hacking is the same – once they’re in, there’s a good chance you won’t even know and they’ll keep stealing your information and using it to their advantage. Your customers data can be leaked, your files can be all encrypted on a certain date, and suddenly you have no business and you probably have to report the breach to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and your customers (via the mandatory data breach notification scheme).

Then the pain really starts because you incur costs due to:

Lost information and the above costs are exactly why 60% of companies that suffer a major cyber security breach are out of business in 6 months or less. Yes, that’s a very confronting statistic!

Scare yourself into action if you have to

Something I like to relate cyber security awareness to is riding my motorbike. It’s a risky proposition, and to ward off the complacency I sometimes watch motorbike crashes on YouTube. Weird as that may sound, I do it to remind myself of the dangers, how to spot them, and how to deal with them. I then implement what I have learnt.

So what should we be doing to be proactive?

Check your IT contracts for limit of liability. Companies supplying your IT services should own their failings that lead to a breach, and not pass them onto you.

Ensure your backup regime is incredibly robust. And you want to store backup data at regular intervals, do regular tests to ensure the backups are working, and that you can successfully restore the data.

Develop “Disaster Recovery” and “Business Continuity” plans. When things go really bad, it’s really helpful to have plans to follow so you remain as functional as possible and minimise the disruption to your customers. You also need to test and refine these plans.

Develop policies and procedures for how to protect against, detect and respond to cyber security breaches.

Test the security of your systems with a penetration testing service.

And consider how you train your staff. This is not a compliance exercise where you want to tick a box – you want your staff to be fully engaged and learning so that they retain the knowledge and implement it.

So, if you’re going to use an online course, make sure it’s interesting enough that people don’t go into autopilot, or multi-task. If you’re going to use an onsite trainer to maximise engagement, make sure they are fun and knowledgeable! Why do I mention fun / interesting? Let’s face it, cyber security is not everyone’s cup of tea, so it’s incredibly important to ensure your staff are fully immersed in the training!

It’s no longer a matter of “if” a breach will happen, but “how often” and “how bad”. Be proactive and use your staff to greatly reduce the probability of a cyber breach, and the impact it will have on your company and your customers.

Mike Ouwerkerk is an onsite face to face trainer for cyber security awareness, predominately in South East Queensland, but also interstate. He can be booked through the Go1 Training Assist program.

Book Cyber Security Training using Go1 Training Assist

In the fight against hackers, you must use your staff!

First aid training is important for anyone, but it’s especially critical for people working in the childcare industry. Frequent training is necessary to ensure childcare workers are trained in the most effective and current skills while also keeping already learned skills at the forefront of their minds.

The ability of a childcare worker to respond effectively in an emergency situation is critical because children are at such a risk for unintentional injuries, such as burns, poisoning, falls, etc. Research has shown that most injuries to children result from the following causes:

First aid training provides childcare workers with the critical skills they need to respond effectively in such situations. These skills range from basic first aid steps to how to perform life-saving techniques, such as CPR. Obtaining first aid training is important because an individual’s natural first response might not be the best otherwise.

Online learning using a Learning Management System offers a flexible and easy way for childcare workers to obtain necessary training and qualifications. A Learning Management System, or LMS, is a software portal that makes it possible for learners to engage with course content offered by a variety of providers. Learners are provided with training through a variety of coursework, tutoring, quizzes, and assessments. Everything is conducted through the LMS.

Through the use of an online tool, it’s possible to consolidate all learning materials and related communication in a single location. For instance, the LMS allows for the recording of all training and qualifications. This reduces the need for third-party video hosting and emailed correspondence. In many ways, the LMS acts as a one-stop shop for necessary first aid training for childcare workers.

With a cloud-based system, getting started is easy. All that is required are registering an account and then populating the associated profile with relevant courses. The process is fast and easy. Employees can take required courses when it is most convenient for them without the need to travel.

The types of courses offered online in an e-learning format for childcare workers run the gamut. Most courses are short, which means employees can obtain the training they need without taking up a lot of valuable time.

In a childcare setting, accidents can occur at any time. Regardless of the number of precautions taken, there is always the risk for an accident taking place. When an accident does occur, it’s imperative that workers be prepared. That preparation could mean the difference between life and death for a child. This four-part course is designed to teach childcare workers what to do in an emergency, including how they should initially respond, and basic first aid guidelines. Modules in this course include:

This module teaches the proper procedure for responding to an accident scene. This includes best practices for protecting oneself from bodily fluids and blood, how to perform hands-only CPR, and how to aid both a conscious and unconscious victim.

This module discusses the proper techniques for providing first aid for shock, burns, scalds, and bleeding injuries. A discussion regarding the different types of bleeding injuries is offered, including how to treat each type of injury. This module also covers the symptoms of shock and how to provide aid to a victim suffering from shock. The proper steps for treating burns and scalds are also given.

Electric shock, head injuries, spinal injuries, and fractures

This module discusses the proper first aid measures for treating head and spinal injuries, electric shock injuries, and fractures. This part of the course also provides information on how to make and apply simple splints for fractures, what to do if you suspect a child has suffered from one of these types of injuries, and the symptoms of spinal and head injuries.

Poisoning, environmental hazards, and other medical emergencies

When children play outdoors, they are at risk for a variety of injuries, including extreme temperatures, drowning, insect stings, and snakebites. This module discusses the proper methods for rendering first aid to a child experiencing an emergency situation, such as hypothermia, hyperthermia, snakebite, and insect stings. Additionally, this module provides information regarding poisoning and other emergency situations, such as anaphylaxis, asthma attacks, and seizures.

This course focuses specifically on allergies and anaphylaxis, both of which present serious risks for children. In this module, information is presented on the types of allergies; allergy signs, symptoms, and management; and signs, symptoms, and management of anaphylaxis.

This course provides critical information on asthma, including the triggers of asthma; preventers and relievers; and signs, symptoms, and management of asthma.

This module provides critical information on first aid for seizures and strokes, including triggers of seizures; signs and symptoms of minor seizures; phases of major seizures; seizure management; and signs, symptoms, and management of stroke.

This course covers information on best practices for treating trauma injuries, such as the types of head injuries; spinal, crush, and abdominal injuries; eye and ear injuries; and signs, symptoms, and management of such injuries.

This course provides information on first aid for poisoning emergencies, including poisoning management; needle stick injury management; types of bites and stings; and signs, symptoms, and management of bites and stings.

Improve how you manage your Childcare Training with Go1

The best way to manage your childcare training

Lost time due to sickness takes a toll on not only the employee but also the business. While sickness cannot be completely avoided, every sick day that an employee takes can create havoc on a business. Unlike vacation days, which can be planned for in advance, sick days typically come completely unannounced. As a result, it can be difficult for management to plan for those days. This often results in a complete upheaval for the business, affecting management, other employees, and even customers. Clearly, it’s imperative that employers find an effective method for helping employees stay as healthy as possible.

E-learning offers a flexible and easily accessible method for educating employees on best practices for improving their health. Not only is e-learning an easily offered education tool in the workplace, but it also happens to be the preferred learning method for millennials. Considering that millennials comprise approximately one-third of today’s workforce, it certainly makes sense for employers to consider the preferences of this demographic when developing training solutions.

With e-learning, employers gain the advantage of maximum flexibility. This can be of significant importance when scheduling time for training. Since all the tools and materials for the courses are prerecorded and digital, training can be offered at any time that is most convenient for management and employees.

Lost productivity due to illness costs businesses far too much money each year. Fortunately, at least some of this is reversible. This can be easily accomplished through specific e-learning courses focusing on reducing the risk of work-related illness and improving one’s health.

Such courses can run include helping employees learn how to balance work and life, so that they are more productive without becoming overworked. For example, employees can learn how to manage their schedules to ensure they have time for working out at the gym and other physical fitness activities. Such activities are not only important for stress relief but also crucial for staying physically fit and healthy. The more physically fit employees are, the less likely they are to become ill. Furthermore, e-learning courses can be used to provide health and wellness information to employees who live in areas where health services might be limited.

Courses to Consider for Helping Employees Boost Their Health

The types of courses offered by an employer to assist employees in reducing their risk of work-related illness may vary based on industry and area. However, there are some courses that all employers should consider offering. These courses include:

This course shows employees how to achieve a balanced life while still having time for work as well as relaxation, relationships, and fun. The focus of this course is goal-centered time management. Employees will learn how to work smarter rather than harder. They also will learn effective stress management techniques, so they will be able to build resilience even while under pressure.

When it comes to keeping employees happy, healthy, and productive, psychological health is just as important as physical health. Regardless of the industry, it is vital that employees be able to deal with challenging situations effectively. This course is designed to assist employees in balancing psychological health matters successfully.

A lack of understanding regarding nutritional eating has led to a global obesity epidemic. This can have a significant effect on the workforce. To address this crisis, it’s important for employees to be educated about strategies for healthful eating. Studies have shown that the consumption of heavily processed foods has contributed to increasing rates of chronic disease. The good news is that many of these diseases are preventable. This course provides employees with both the information and the skills they need to distinguish between foods that threaten their health and foods that will optimize their health.

It’s common for employees to suffer from a variety of health issues, including aches and pains. Unfortunately, those aches and pains can affect productivity and missed work days. Acupressure has been proven to be an effective method for treating everyday issues. With this course, employees will learn how to relieve their own pain without the need for medications using traditional massage points. The course instructs learners how to locate the right massage points for headache and migraine relief, flu relief, allergy relief, anxiety relief, asthma relief, depression relief, and more.

Yoga for All: Lose Weight and Detox to Better Health

This course instructs learns how to take advantage of three authentic yoga practices to lose weight, sleep better, and detox in a safe and completely gentle manner. Through this course, employees will learn how to perform more than 100 yoga poses to increase flexibility, strengthen their core, and tone their muscles. Instruction regarding meditation is also provided, showing learners techniques for guided meditation and breathing exercises. Additionally, learners will receive information about the Saathvic diet, including information on the benefits of natural foods and how they can accelerate weight loss.

Lost work days and productivity can be among the most serious issues faced by management in the workplace. However, managers can take steps to assist employees in reducing illness while boosting their health. E-learning offers an effective method for delivering vital information to employees, allowing them to take greater control of their health and wellness.

There’s no doubt that possessing a well-trained sales staff is tremendously important in the apparel & fashion industry. After all, when a manager or store owner is not around, who do customers turn to for questions or concerns?

However, according to Sales Readiness Group, a research report by CSO Insights discovered that under 10% of sales organizations said their training program went above their expectations while only 33% felt that the program met their expectations. That means over half of companies were unsatisfied with their approach to training staff.

With this in mind, it’s important that we discuss why and how the right training can ensure the prosperity of a business.

The cost of providing poor training for sales staff

But before we delve into online training, let’s talk specifically about what can happen if you choose not to provide quality training for your sales staff.

For one, improper or lack of training of sales employees could result in loss of sales and make it difficult to achieve true customer loyalty. In fact, 71% of customers claimed that trustworthy communication is a major reason they make a purchase.

Research has shown that poor training can lead to a 20% turnover rate. It’s clear to see that employees truly do represent a company, and how trained they are is reflected in a business’s sales.

Another problem with failing to offer high-quality training is the fact that employees are more likely to forget important information with time. Not only does poor training result in faster loss of content, but failing to occasionally retrain employees can do it too. In fact, Gryphon Sales Strategy cites one survey that found that 84% of training information is lost 90 days after training.

This is where the importance of proper staff training comes in. Providing enjoyable, content-filled training for your employees can ensure your staff will pay attention and better retain the information you give them in your materials.

Employees have greater flexibility about when and where they get trained and can do so from a variety of devices

Slower learners benefit significantly from online versus in-person training as many online courses are self-paced

Online training can often be more enjoyable for staff

Implementing training online is less of a hassle for employers as already-made online training courses can be found

Training materials can be reviewed online if an employee forgets certain information

Many millennials are especially excited about online training as they thrive in versatile and innovative environments

Online training saves time and added stress on the employer’s side

Online training courses are great to reiterate sales or communication strategies or to educate staff on lengthy, more complex topics in an organized manner

If a company has out-of-state employees, they can still receive quality training without the need to travel long distances

Once employers offer online training, it makes it easier to set up future sessions as there is a reduced need for employers to be involved. With that said, an employer who utilizes online training may be more likely to offer recurring training than companies who only offer on-site training. This is a huge advantage for any organization.

Get online sales training courses from Go1

Best of all, there is no need for you to create your own training courses. Forget putting together information packets or documents, filming videos, or creating PowerPoints to train employees. You can still adequately train your sales staff without doing it all yourself.

Through Go1, training sales staff is easy with online training courses that are already made and ready to go. Go1 offers over 600 online course options that range from Retail – Managing Yourself, Personal Presentation & Hygiene, to Products and Merchandise, to Effective Communication.

You can even have immediate access to our most popular courses that go beyond sales and delve into leadership, customer service, personal development, and other types of valuable content.

Go1 courses can be either self-paced or scheduled and help educate your team members on endless topics - from compliance to hiring policy and everything in between.

There’s no doubt about it: online training is the training of the future when it comes to working with your sales staff.

For more insights, be sure to subscribe to the Go1 newsletter to stay on top of all the latest L&D trends. Or, you can book a demo today to find out how Go1 can help with your team’s learning needs.

Training sales staff is easy with online training

A serious injury or death in the workplace can affect your business significantly and alter lives forever. Along with major financial burdens, workplace injuries can pose significant demands on you and your workers. As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure that each person you employ returns home every day in good health. Creating a healthy and safe work environment is about far more than simply establishing rules, however.

An important component of any comprehensive workplace health and safety program is providing initial as well as ongoing training. The problem that many companies encounter is that they simply do not know where to begin. Once you have answered the question of why you need worksite safety training, you must then move on to determining how you will provide effective training and which topics you should cover.

Online training is often the most effective and cost-efficient method of delivery for many businesses. Regardless of your industry, online training offers a myriad of benefits, including convenience and cost-effectiveness. There is no need to wait until a class is full to train employees. Training can take place at any time, which is a great benefit regardless of whether you need to train new hires or provide refresher training to current employees. Your business can also avoid the need to bring employees in for training, thus slashing travel costs.

The types of courses you include in your company’s worksite safety training can run the gamut, but it should include a few basics to ensure that your employees have a solid grasp of how to stay safe in the workplace.

Work Health and Safety Fundamentals is an excellent example of the type of basic course that should be offered to your employees as part of your workplace health and safety program. This course provides employees with an understanding of health and safety responsibilities in the workplace, including how to reduce the risk for some common workplace hazards.

Office Ergonomics is another course that would be highly suitable for any business, particularly those that employ workers who spend significant amounts of time at their desks. This course was developed with the goal of offering an understanding of how to set up a workspace that is safe, healthy, and productive. Workers will learn about some of the common health risks in the office environment; how to set up computer screens and chairs; how to arrange items on a desk; and how to manage issues resulting from temperature, lighting, and noise. Additionally, the course offers suggestions on how to structure work tasks and breaks to reduce the risk of illness and injury.

Slips and Trips Hazard Guide is a course intended to provide workers with an understanding of the controls that should be used to reduce the risk of slips and trips in the workplace. The course offers information about how to identify slips and trips, including how workers could be exposed to slips and trips in the workplace.

Electrical Risks Hazard Guide is a course that has been designed to provide employees with an understanding of the controls necessary to reduce electrical risks in the workplace. The course provides information about electrical risks, the ways that employees could be exposed to those risks, and the controls needed to reduce the risks.

Manual Handling Hazard Guide is a course targeting any worker who may need to manually handle materials in the workplace. The goal of this course is to provide information about what manual handling is, hazardous activities related to manual handling, and the controls that should be put in place to reduce the risks associated with manual handling.

Education and training are critical tools for keeping workers informed about workplace hazards as well as controls that can be used to boost safety and productivity. With the proper workplace safety and hazard control education program in place, employees will have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their jobs safely and without putting others at risk. Employees will also gain the information needed to properly identify, report, and control workplace hazards.

All employees should receive a minimum of workplace hazard training; however, additional training might be necessary for some employees based on their role. For this reason, it is important to evaluate your company’s workplace safety and health program on a regular basis to ensure it remains up to date and in compliance.

It should be kept in mind that a formal classroom setting is not always necessary to provide effective education and training. Online training is a convenient way to ensure your employees have a solid understanding of potential workplace hazards and appropriate controls, thus promoting safe work practices.

If you are still considering why you need worksite safety training, remember that all it takes is a single incident at your place of business to create devastating effects on your company as well as everyone whom you employ. One accident in the workplace can be costly to your company while creating a cascading effect that can affect your business for many years to come. It is far better to establish a comprehensive worksite safety training program now and ensure that all of your employees understand how to work safely rather than wait until a tragedy occurs. This type of program will more than pay for the nominal investment by mitigating the possible risks that you might otherwise incur.

Why you need worksite safety training

Did you know that there are 76 million cases of foodborne illness every year in the US?

If you own a restaurant or café, you take pride in your work and serving delicious food to your customers. So why wouldn’t you want to make sure this is exactly what happens in your establishment?

The last thing you want to do is make your customers sick with food poisoning. But, unfortunately, this is what happens when your staff don’t follow the food safety procedures that should be in place.

Unhealthy bacteria like E. coli and salmonella can easily spread on countertops if they aren’t properly cleaned -  you’d be surprised at how many dangers lurk in your restaurant or café that you don’t know about.

The best way to make sure that your business isn’t affected by any avoidable outbreaks is through online food safety training. This can benefit all your employees to make sure that there’s no dangerous bacteria or germs contaminating customer meals.

So what are some of the benefits of training your employees in food safety and hygiene? Well, for one, when you’re able to prevent food poisoning, you make sure that you build a positive reputation and not a bad one.

The last thing you want is customers to get sick and for news to spread that your establishment is to blame. This sort of bad news can bring disaster to a business. But when your employees know about proper food safety, you can build a positive reputation and concentrate on what you do best.

In addition, when employees know exactly how to work hygienically, this will make your workflow, in general, more efficient and allow meals to come out of the kitchen faster. There will be fewer errors and - most importantly – fewer threats to the health of your customers.

You’ll notice that your food waste is also reduced and this will no longer cut into your profits. After all, who wants to see their business profits plummet due to inefficient working and bad hygiene when it could be prevented?

Of course, as the owner of a food establishment, it’s your responsibility and duty to ensure that there’s a clean and safe environment for preparing and serving food to your customers.

This means that good training can prevent your establishment from being fined and having to pay thousands of dollars in penalties and in lawsuits. So, let’s find out more about this food safety training that we’re talking about.

Everybody should know the basics about food safety, from chefs to front of house. Online learning is a fantastic way to make sure that the right materials are accessible to the right people.

A food safety e-learning course will educate your team on why hygiene, preparation and storage are important not only for your business but for the safety of customers too.

Plus, it will teach them about good hygiene practices to use when they’re at work and even what they can practice at home. It can be simple things such as how to wash your hands properly and the importance of hair restraints and food storage.

When you provide your employees with online food safety training, you can make sure that your business is efficient, productive and successful all at the same time.

An easy and effective way to train your employees in food safety is through online e-learning courses. This is becoming the best way to provide education to your team since it’s a convenient and fun way to learn everything there is to know about food safety.

E-learning courses are fantastic because they can be accessed at any time and from anywhere. All your employees need is their own tablet and they’re all ready to go.

They’ll be able to access all the learning materials from home, as well as on the go. It’s up to them where they’ll learn best and feel like they are retaining the information better.

A lot of people learn more effectively with visual aids and this is the great thing about food safety e-learning courses. They use a variety of media to teach your team, such as animated videos, presentations and even games. Who knew learning could be so much fun, right?

In addition, online food safety training is cost-effective for your business. You won’t have to fork out for expensive conferences or to bring in a professional for teaching – you can invest in an online course instead!

They’re still designed by professionals in the industry, as well as kept up-to-date with the latest laws and regulations for your business. So, it’s always going to be the best option for all your employees to access.

What’s more, online learning gives you the ability to track your employee’s progress. You’ll be able to see who has completed their training at the touch of a button, as well as check up on their scores on quizzes and tests.

This allows you to provide more support to employees that require a little bit more help with online food safety training.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s never too late to start introducing online food safety training to your team. In fact, the sooner the better! All you’ve got to do is choose the courses that you want for training and it will be all ready to start.

Online food safety training: improving workplace efficiency and productivity

Do your employees feel confident about serving alcohol responsibly to customers?

When your business is in the hospitality sector, whether it’s running a restaurant or a hotel, there’s going to be alcohol available to customers. We all know that when there’s alcohol being served that there’s also an increased risk of problems developing.

These problems can be unruly customers, accidental injuries, as well as damage to your property. In addition, intoxicated customers can cause traffic accidents and even fatalities. This is obviously the last thing that anybody wants.

That’s why it’s so important to know the signs that somebody has had a little bit too much to drink and when to say no and stop serving them alcohol on your premises. This is the best way to avoid these serious problems from happening in the first place.

An online RSA course can help with this. RSA courses can train your employees on how to serve alcohol to customers responsibly.

When staff are aware of their responsibilities when it comes to serving alcohol, they are going to have a more pleasant and enjoyable working environment. With less trouble, there’s guaranteed to be a boost in morale and this generally leads to lower staff turnover.

RSA training also provides a safer environment for your guests. After all, problems with alcohol affect more than just the people that are drinking – it also affects the people around them too. When your staff know how to serve alcohol responsibly, everyone can be safer and more relaxed.

This will ensure that your business establishes a good reputation and brings about larger profits in the long run. It’s just a fact that when you take care of everyone around you, this will come back to your business.

What’s more, investing in good RSA online courses pays off. You can prevent potential legal problems later down the line, as well as bad publicity that could land your business on the front page of the newspaper or social media networks. It could even save you money on security on your premises and damage that is done.

Of course, as an employer, you have legal responsibilities and duties if you serve alcohol on your licensed premises. This means you can potentially avoid costly trouble with the law by providing your employees with the opportunity to gain their RSA online.

Since you are responsible for all of your employees, it’s beneficial to provide them with the right resources they need to understand how to serve alcohol responsibly. Online RSA courses are going to be beneficial for servers, bartenders and even owners of establishments.

An online RSA course is also going to help your employees identify when customers have had too much to drink by learning what the warning signs are before things get out of hand. This should stop any trouble developing and benefit the customer too.

In addition, your employees can learn about the laws that are suitable for their industries so they’re aware of what the penalties are and what can happen if they don’t do their job right.

While it’s the employer that’s ultimately liable, it can still create a sense of responsibility with your staff.

An online RSA course can help your employees feel confident in their job, safer and even more empowered in how to deal with a difficult situation if it arrives. This can make all the difference to their work experience!

One of the best methods to deliver effective RSA training nowadays is through e-learning courses. It’s efficient, effective, and much easier to deliver for businesses of all sizes.

Online courses offer the flexibility to help continuous training be delivered more successfully in a busy working environment. You no longer need to send your teams to events or conferences to get them trained up – after all, we all know how much of a hassle this can be when you are trying to run your business!

With an online RSA course, your employees can learn anywhere and at any time. The materials are on demand - which means that your staff can choose when and where they complete their training.

For example, some employees might prefer to learn in the comfort of their own home. Whereas other members of staff are happy to learn on-the-go. Your team members can work at their own pace and in an environment where it suits them.

What’s more, RSA online courses are delivered in a variety of different media formats, which means that they are really an excellent training experience for every type of learner. Videos, multimedia, group forums, and online quizzes can all make the process more interesting and even FUN.

If you’re in the market for RSA training for your team, you should consider having a look at your options within the Go1 Marketplace. We give you access to a wide variety of training options to help upskill your employees – on every topic you can imagine.

Employees will love the opportunity to learn in a more entertaining and effective format, and ultimately, you’ll notice a HUGE difference in your bottom line when you have the right RSA training in place

With jobs being more sedentary now than ever before, are your employees really comfortable?

It’s easy to forget that your employees will spend the majority of their day at their desks and staring at a screen. While many people are used to this now, it’s important to realize that this can have a bad effect on your comfort and long-term health.

As an employer, you’ve got the responsibility to provide a safe and proper workspace for every one of your employees. This includes offering protection from injury, as well as helping to prevent health problems where you can.

This is where the design of your work environment is actually very important. There’s a reason why employers are spending more and more time updating the office with new desks, chairs and computer monitors.

So, you might be thinking, what’s a chair got to do with doing my job properly? Well, you’ll find that it can make all the difference to your employee’s workplace experience.

Office ergonomics actually plays a big role in increasing productivity with your staff. You’d be surprised just how rewarding it can be to invest a little time into the right office furniture, such as chairs and desks.

You may think that your levels of concentration and productivity are all in the mind. But, actually, if you’re physically comfortable, this lets you become more focused and productive too.

Ever noticed that when you slump over your laptop, you get an aching back and neck at the end of the day? This is because your body is uncomfortable in this position and often this will distract you from the work that you’re doing.

With the wrong office furniture, your staff can be more at risk of repetitive strain injury and musculoskeletal injuries. In fact, problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome can leave your employees unable to carry out their work properly.

Millennial workers who are now taking over the workforce appreciate proper office ergonomics more than ever before. It leads to not only increased productivity but also employee satisfaction. Plus, it’s going to reduce your costs later down the line when it comes to injury and employee absence.

Of course, it’s not just the workspace and environment that you’ve got to work on. There’s things that employees can do too to make sure they avoid preventable injuries and pain that’s going to upset their comfort and productivity.

The problem is that most employees don’t know what they can do to making their work experience better. So, this is where online learning comes into play!

Office ergonomics is not all about investing in new office furniture – it’s also about teaching employees how they can use their office space to their advantage and make their work experience more enjoyable on a day-to-day basis.

With online learning, employees can find out ways that they can prevent injuries that are common in sedentary jobs. When they know how to identify the hazards to their health, they can find ways to avoid them.

In addition, there’s no point in having advanced technology and furniture if your employees don’t know how to use it properly. So, with online learning, your employees can find out what equipment they should be using, how they should use it and ways to arrange their workspace.

Of course, online learning will also reinforce how important office ergonomics are in the workplace and that it should be taken seriously to reduce fatigue, feel less irritable and agitated, as well as become more efficient and perform better at daily tasks.