An effective job training program can help new employees even before they start work and persuade them to stay with a company longer, Robert Willis says.
“Employee satisfaction is driven in part by being comfortable in the work environment,” said Willis, chief technology officer of WYSR, which provides a variety of recruitment, training, and career development tools to employers, primarily those in the gaming industry. “If employees have training, that will lead to better outcomes, they’ll have higher job satisfaction, and that will lead to better customer satisfaction.”
WYSR, founded in 2022, boasts a catalog of more than 250 e-learning videos covering numerous topics, including guest services, compliance, professional and personal development, and security. The courses are available through its website, rather than an app, and WYSR needs only minimal connections to an employer’s human resources system. The software automatically adapts the video presentation to whatever type of device the employee uses.
WYSR’s owner is Bill Warner of Warner Gaming, which operates casinos in various locations. Willis previously was CTO of Marnell Gaming, which built the M Resort in Las Vegas and a number of casino openings for Warner Gaming.
“Training isn’t just how to do a widget,” said Willis, who initially developed the WYSR software. “Training is the mental side as well.” For example, he said WYSR can help an employer develop courseware to prevent “first-day jitters” by showing new hires, before they start work, where to park, which entrance to use, the location of restrooms and break rooms, dress and appearance standards, and a tour of the facilities. “From day one, the employee starts having a good understanding,” Willis said.
WYSR’s approach goes beyond the typical onboarding process. For example, a newly hired bartender needs to know the laws and company policies governing responsible alcohol service. WYSR has a half-dozen courses on the topic. The range of WYSR’s subject matter enables an employer to match courseware with employees falling under a specific department or job description. WYSR software automatically assigns the courseware to affected employees and automates the process. Using software for training guarantees a uniform message for new employees and provides evidence of completion, he added. Because laws can vary from one jurisdiction to another, employers can choose to have training courses address specific circumstances.
Willis said WYSR’s program is more powerful than traditional HR portals that many employers have instituted but few workers find informative or useful. WYSR is available on the staffer’s phone and provides not only new-employee training but also policies, employee news, and announcements by anyone from the head of a small department to the leader of the company.
“We’ve added all these things to make it something that employees go to a lot,” Willis said. The program also allows the company to survey employees. “Companies can really dive into this product and have it as a single spot where the employees can have this interaction and communication,” he said.
It also can be used for recruiting, Willis added. “Employers can explain why someone should come to work for them, their culture, their mission,” and include a link to complete a formal job application. WYSR also offers courses on professional development, providing employees with a better understanding of how to advance their careers within the company.
Empowering employees in their careers pays off with customers, Willis said. “If employees are more comfortable in their job and their lives, it’s just human nature that they’re going to be nicer,” he said. “Job satisfaction improves employee satisfaction, which improves employee retention and improves customer performance.”