1 million spend more time on tea breaks than training

Over one million UK members of staff spend more time relaxing with a cup of tea than on any work-based training. 

The Association of Accounting Technicians’ (AAT) research, carried out by Censuswide on their behalf, found that 30% of workers have never had any form of work-related training and that 38% searched online how to do their jobs better in their own time. 

A fifth of managers said they think training employees will only advance their own career, but 72% want to learn more at work to help them do their existing jobs better. Only one in ten said they sought training to help them move jobs. 

Speaking to HR Grapevine, Olivia Hill, Chief HR Officer at the AAT, said: “Managers seek to recruit highly trained employees, yet some see training as a high-risk expenditure. They also – mistakenly – think it’s a route for employees to look for better jobs elsewhere. Employees, though, are seeking to improve skills to move on in their current roles.