For many employees, the idea of going back to school in the traditional sense is simply not an option. However, boosting their training with a new staffing certification is a quicker, simpler way to get back into the classroom while improving their skillset and offering more to the employer.

Offer Training Time

If you as a business owner have staff members who have the skills to attain a higher certification level but don't have the time to study, it may be time to provide them with

• the time to study

• the tools to practice

• the cash to apply for testing

A simple way to start would be to allow them to move to a conference room or an open office for their study time. If this isn't possible, let them come in an hour later or leave an hour earlier each day to boost this study time. Of course, you will need them to log this study time and to be able to take practice tests to confirm their improvement.

To make sure that your employees are engaged in improving their certifications, pay for the testing after the test is passed and the certification is received. A commensurate pay raise should also be included in your planning for these improvements.

Offer These Perks To All Available Departments

In a tight labor market, having the best hiring professionals often means bumping up their skills and certifications. If you need to look far afield to staff your business, an expert in the field of H1-B visas would be of great benefit to your team.

No matter your industry, your goal has to be to hire the very best people. Having someone in your HR or hiring department who knows the state and local labor laws, as well as new federal regulations, will greatly reduce headaches. Whether you are staffing a hospital or manufacturing firm, the best hiring team can simplify your workload.

Increase Individual Marketability

For those looking for work, boosting your education by getting a higher certification in your field can go a long way to making more and expanding your working options. For example, if you have a degree that allows you to work in a laboratory, getting your Clinical Laboratory Scientist certification means that you can work in any and all specialty areas of a clinical laboratory.

This can be an ideal certification for a laboratory scientist who wants to increase their studies but isn't certain of the best path to take. Because you can take this certification to work in labs that focus on pathogens as well as immune reactions, your next field of study may be easier to determine with lab time related to the new science.

Helping Employees Up The Ladder

If you provide your employees the chance to improve their staffing certifications, the benefits for your company will be extensive. For example, your IT team may be top-notch at all things technical. Their first basic certification will also teach simple working tools, such as time management and new federal laws that impact employment practices. Certification classes can often broaden the base knowledge of even the best-trained professionals.

Once an employee embarks on improving their certification, time and resources will need to be made available to continue their education and to help them reach the next level. For IT professionals, the rapidly changing field of cybersecurity is also worth a review. As an employer, an employee who boosts their ability to protect your business from outside scammers is a huge benefit.

Celebrate These Milestones!

It should always be noted that many people get and keep their jobs without adding certifications. Those who successfully achieve new certifications, no matter their field, need to be celebrated! Everyone has been through a great deal of uncertainty and worry. Employees who are willing to constantly be expanding their professional footprint in times of great stress are a treasure.

Carefully consider the personal preferences of the person being celebrated. Not everyone likes to be featured in a meeting or honored at a breakfast. Some may be quite happy with a mass email to the entire firm to commend them for their efforts, a pay bonus, or a mid-season raise.

The goal is to get other employees to ask about getting their own certifications. From HR to bookkeeping to IT, professionals with constantly advancing skills will be good for your bottom line. The more they know, the better protected you are from hard market hits and changes in the law.