Investing in Your Talent

In today's economic environment, I find it frustrating that investment dollars are being taken away from employee development. In the public sector, cities, school districts, and others are eliminating education reimbursement and travel expenses to industry related seminars. Corporations are also reducing tuition reimbursement for employees who want to pursue their MBA's.

Clearly, there are some areas of a budget that should be reviewed for cost-cutting measures. However, education and employee development should not be considered expendable. I think in today's environment, these development opportunities are what will keep employees motivated and optimistic for future opportunities.

These actions reinforce a fundemental issue that while organization's preach that "our employees are our most important asset", not many of them actually have proof that they make significant investments in these assets.