New online learning and training technologies have made corporate training programs more effective in recent years. Increasingly, customized e-learning options are the smart choice for startups and growing businesses.

In addition to providing training on corporate policies, company history and specific job duties, online training is increasingly used to introduce new employees to company culture. Corporate culture is the ever-present foundation that stabilises the relationship between an employee and their company.

It’s this important relationship between employee and the company that is the foundation of employee happiness.

Employees seek truth and authenticity when it comes to understanding, and ultimately loving, the company for which they work.  Sharing corporate culture is a big part of this. Sadly, 82 percent of people don’t trust business executives to tell them the truth (Edelman Trust Barometer 2013 Annual Global Study).

But when companies are true and authentic in employee interactions, and in how corporate culture is brought to life, employees are more likely to be happy.

Here are four ways e-learning programs directly contribute to employee satisfaction and overall job happiness.

Kick-start Happiness by Helping New Employees Fit In Right From the Start

It’s important to make new employees feel that they are a valued part of the organization from their very first day on the job.

But having new employees sit down and simply read a policy manual is not an effective way to integrate a new employee into your company. Bespoke online training courses include a range of interactive materials, such as videos from past employee events, interviews with employees and personal messages from upper management, to help new staff get up and running as quickly as possible.

Ask Employees What Will Make Them Happy

Often, employees are anxious about asking their boss for what they need. New employees may want to avoid looking needy, or perhaps they feel that it’s not their place to ask for more than what has already been provided or what they feel they should already know.

Employees are happiest when companies empower them to ask for what they need. Online training is an easy way to fulfill these requests.

By simply asking employees what they would like to learn, you can help them feel like their needs are heard and also empower them to think about how they might be able to do their jobs better. E-learning courses are relatively inexpensive and turnkey to implement. There are a range of online courses available on nearly every single topic or niche today. Begin by checking out Udemy to see which courses may be available.

Healthy Employees are Happy Employees

A recent study found that employees were happier working at companies that offered health-related programs such as health risk assessments and employee assistance programs. Companies with a corporate culture that includes health and wellness will thrive.

Online courses and training can support these health-related programs. Not only do these help a company control healthcare costs, but they can also  help businesses maintain a productive workforce.

Use Online Training to Facilitate Upward Mobility

One of the top reasons employees leave a company is that they feel they have reached a dead end and there is nowhere else to go in the organization.

Online training courses can help employees achieve micro-goals throughout their career and also help employees maintain their need for upward mobility within an organization. Topics like leadership, new software upgrading, and general career development all help with employee retention and further enhance a company’s authenticity by sharing lessons from management along the way.

When online training courses are implemented in this way, employees will understand that there are always opportunities for learning, they will begin to better understand why a company is making key decisions, and that the business is dedicated to having them reach their full potential.