The Great Resignation created a tidal wave of instability across industries. Now, labor shortages leave the global food supply chain incredibly vulnerable to breakdown. With such a tight hiring market, food and beverage companies need to find ways to reduce turnover and prevent further disruption to their operations. Making improvements to the food safety training and certification programs you already invest in could be the solution. Here are some of the results of improving food safety training and certification.
A 2022 Mind the Workplace survey found a direct correlation between unhealthy workplaces and employees looking for new jobs. Ironically, when workers aren’t confident in the food safety processes and procedures their companies require, they can inadvertently create a cascade of stressful workplace conditions that drive turnover. First, workers may avoid asking questions about food safety protocols for fear of looking inadequate. This uncertainty hinders productivity and increases stress as it undermines performance.
Thorough and regular food safety training and certification can reinforce rules and give employees more insight into the reasoning behind food safety procedures, alleviating worker anxiety and improving workflows in the process.
When all employees are on the same page about food safety standards and procedures, work unfolds more smoothly, reducing mistakes and the burden of rework. Employers benefit from enhanced productivity and a higher state of flow on the plant floor, while streamlined workflows enhance employee relationships, engagement, and fulfillment from meaningful contributions. Employees that are satisfied with their job are less likely to look for employment elsewhere.
When employees aren’t properly trained to maintain food safety standards, it doesn’t just put the public at risk — it threatens the solvency of the company itself. Compliance breaches can result in costly product recalls, resulting in major profit losses and budget cuts. As these costs increase, so does the likelihood of layoffs. If manufacturers don’t take corrective action, they can have their license to produce food revoked. The moment workers feel their job is at risk, they quickly look for work elsewhere, and their engagement fades. In fact, workers who are insecure in their jobs are less likely to follow rules than job-secure employees, risking food safety compliance.
The effect of improving food safety training radiates throughout an entire company and actually improves food safety culture. Employees feel more accountable to their teams and supervisors, and in turn produce safer and higher quality products, which increases revenue, validating the effort employees put into maintaining high standards. When frontline workers are confident in what they are doing and see the impact of their teamwork, food safety transforms into a mission rather than a burden. Improving these dynamics will create a better overall food safety culture and improve job satisfaction even more.
According to LinkedIn’s Workplace Learning Report, providing learning opportunities is the #1 way employers are boosting retention. Proper food safety training and certification doesn’t just help food manufacturers improve their products — it also helps workers advance their careers. Investment in advancing the knowledge and skills of their frontline workers increases loyalty and incentivizes them to stay longer at the company.
Food safety training is necessary for companies to protect the food supply and avoid legal repercussions. But amid a record-breaking labor shortage, companies that align compliance efforts with improving workplace culture will enjoy higher retention rates as well, safeguarding their operation from further disruption. However, creating effective food safety training and certification programs that improve employee loyalty is difficult without the right expertise. That’s where AIB International comes in.
The company has partnered with leading food and beverage manufacturers for more than 100 years to create and uphold the highest standards in the industry, from frontline workers to top company leadership. Want to take your food safety training and certification programs to the next level? Learn more about our Food Safety Essentials course, here.