5 reasons why companies should invest in learning

We have tackled the question of continuous learning this month, and talked a great deal about the benefits of spreading a culture of learning across organizations. If looking for a healthy work-life balance has become an undeniable must-have to foster employee well-being, providing a constant learning curve has also arisen as an efficient way to make employees happier at work. We have collected feedback from experts in different departments - see Romain's interview (R&D) and Hind's column (Talent & Learning) - and here is what to remember, in a nutshell.

In her last column on the Culture of Learning, Hind Charpentier, Director of Talent & Learning at Criteo, says - "If learning stands for one true strategic pillar, you'll propel your organization and make it a place where people can grow and thrive on many different levels." Indeed, fostering a culture of learning across your organization can increase:

• Employee empowerment - Feeling free to explore new directions and test different areas of expertise can help employees feel more secure when building their own career path. 
• Employee engagement - Many employees pursue a sense of fulfillement in their job. It is likely that providing learning opportunities can prevent boredom and enhance both professional and personal growth. 
• Employee well-being - When integrated smartly - meaning respecting people's real needs and busy schedules - continuous learning transforms the mindset and increases employee well-being at work.
• Employee performance - Allowing employees to diversify their skill sets is a promising bet on the future as it will boost your teams' creative potential and innovation capabilities.
• Employee retention - Systemic continuous learning is the cornerstone of an employer/ employee win-win situation. Daily learning will help enhance employees' happiness at work, and happy employees are more likely to stay longer at the company. 

So, le'ts put aside the "one-shot" techniques and opt for a systemic learning approach rooted in companies' organizational culture. For a company that has grasped the importance of systemic learning will provide fertile ground for employees to feel both empowered and inspired when shaping their future.

As Hind stated in her column earlier: "Investing in continuous learning is a bet you cannot lose. [...] It is a great way to increase employee engagement, bring in new ideas, develop new skill sets, upgrade existing skills, and foster innovation, helping organizations maintain and improve their competitiveness. Investing in learning is investing in the future."