He went on to earn an associate's degree in the field. Then he found a chemistry program at a nearby university and earned a bachelor's degree, all while working full time. This young man's transformation from a high school graduate to a skilled technician and chemist occurred because opportunities for learning existed at his workplace. Many companies today need employees who are adaptable, flexible and open to change - in other words, people who are learning. Learning sharpens mental skills.
Learners are able to respond more effectively to a changing environment and adapt to new situations.
In short, they become more valuable to the organization - their positions become more secure. Excerpted from Developing Employees Who Love to Learn , by Linda Honold, 2001. Calif. Read other Human Resource Executive magazine stories from our archive. All materials copyright of Human Resource Executive magazine.