SURVEY OF RETAIL GARDEN CENTER EMPLOYEE TRAINING IN ALABAMA

Abstract

A survey was conducted with 130 retail garden centers in Alabama to assess personnel training. The 59 item survey was mailed to 472 employees of these garden centers on 1 June 1992 requesting the amount, frequency, and methods of training they had received from their current employer. 176 surveys were returned for a 37% response rate. 69% of employees received verbal policies and standards from their employer when hired, whereas only 37% were given a written job description of responsibilities. 42% of the employees had received some kind of formal training with 56% received all of their training on an individual basis. Of the employees who received training in small groups, it was performed one to three times among 47% of employees and more than 10 times with 25% of employees. Significant decreases were shown in the amount of training received between the first week and the end of the first six months on the job. The results suggest not enough emphasis is being placed on employee training in the management and operation of retail garden centers in Alabama.