As an employer you have both legal and moral obligations when training your staff.

Legal obligations

All employers who provide training to their staff are obliged to:

• provide a healthy and safe training environment for all staff including those with special needs such as disabled employees
• ensure staff do not experience discrimination or harassment during the training
• provide adequate supervision and support during training
• have appropriate insurance policies for staff who undertake specialised training, such as heavy machinery training
• inform employees of their rights and responsibilities throughout the training
• commit resources necessary to complete agreed training such as safety equipment or computer hardware.

Good practice

There are obligations that are not enforced by law, but represent good workplace practice during training. These include:

• reporting and record keeping of training and its outcomes
• adequate resources to support the business while staff are absent for training
• management strategies to deal with issues associated with the training such as individual problems with the training or changing staff roles.

Informal inhouse training

For informal inhouse training, create a written training agreement to be signed by you and your staff. This will ensure that all parties understand what they can expect from one another.

A training agreement will provide you with a reference document from which you can address any concerns that might arise in relation to the training.

Throughout the training, employers must also observe their usual duties and statutory obligations, such as:

• workers' compensation
• occupational health and safety
• duty to pay appropriate remuneration
• anti-discrimination
• privacy.

Obligations to New Apprentices

If you employ a New Apprentice you will enter into a legally binding Apprenticeship/Traineeship Training Contract that sets your obligations out in detail. This contract obliges you to:

• provide employment and structured training for the duration of the contract during work time
• participate with the New Apprentice in the development of the training plan
• release the New Apprentice to attend off-the-job training when necessary
• provide appropriate support, training and supervision for your New Apprentice to gain the skills and knowledge to complete the requirements of the trade or vocation.

Obligations to RTOs

Employers who appoint the services of a registered training organisation (RTO) usually enter into a formal purchasing agreement.

A purchase agreement describes what services and products the employer has agreed to purchase from the RTO.

For more information about your obligations as an employer contact your New Apprenticeships Centre, your preferred RTO or the training authority in your state or territory.