Refresher training helps your team stay sharp and maintain high performance standards. Whether you're introducing updates or reinforcing existing skills, effective refresher training keeps everyone aligned and confident in their roles.
What is Refresher Training?
Refresher Training is ongoing education that helps employees maintain and improve their skills. It comes in two main forms: proactive Just-in-Time training and reactive Corrective Action Training.
1. Just-in-Time Training
Quick, targeted training that addresses immediate needs or updates that help you address outliers or anomalies before they become habits:
New product launches or menu updates
Seasonal promotions or limited-time offerings
System or process changes
Response to guest feedback
💡 Pro Tip: Use Check-ins to validate a need for Just-in-Time training by adding a passing requirement. This requires managers evaluate and assess trainees’ skills in person to determine whether or not training is required.
2. Corrective Action Training
Focused training to address performance gaps or operations issues like inconsistency in standards impacting the customer experience:
Quality control concerns
Safety procedure reinforcement
Customer service improvements
Compliance updates
⚠️ Important: When assigning corrective action training, set clear completion requirements to create accountability:
- 100% pass rate on knowledge checks
- Manager validation through Check-ins
- Documented demonstration of improved performance
Best Practices for Implementation
Keep it brief: Focus on specific skills or knowledge gaps
Make it relevant: Connect training to real workplace situations
Track completion: Use Opus to monitor progress and validate learning
Follow up: Schedule check-ins to ensure retention
Space it over time: To test if information has been committed to memory, check the given skill or knowledge after a period of time
🔄 Reassign Completed Training: If an employee doesn't meet passing requirements, you may want to:
1. Reassign the training (you can reassign the entire module or specific courses!)
2. Schedule a one-on-one coaching session
3. Document progress in their Check-ins via facilitator notes
Learn more about how you can reassign modules and courses here.
FAQs
How often should Refresher Training occur?
Schedule regular refreshers monthly or quarterly, this could be as simple as a check-in assessment or a quick pop quiz, but be ready to deploy training as needed for urgent updates or changes. We recommend having training courses available that your store leaders or district leaders can feel comfortable doling out as needed.
How do I know if Refresher Training is needed?
Ask yourself if my definition of success for the given knowledge or skill varies over tenure, then a refresher training can help reestablish success metrics over time. Look for indicators like:
Increased error rates
Customer feedback
New product launches or shifts in product mix
Compliance requirement updates
Performance metrics changes
What's the best way to deliver refresher training?
Use a mix of methods including:
Quick video demonstrations
Hands-on practice sessions
Mobile-friendly micro learning
Peer-to-peer coaching during pre-shift and post-shift meetings