--- title: Recruitment and retention on your mind? Let’s talk reskilling description: Feel like you’ve heard enough HR buzzwords for a lifetime? Yep, us too. image: https://blog.payworks.ca/hubfs/BlogPost_ReSkilling_February.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://blog.payworks.ca/recruitment-and-retention-on-your-mind-lets-talk-reskilling#maincontent) [Skip to footer](https://blog.payworks.ca/recruitment-and-retention-on-your-mind-lets-talk-reskilling#footer-en) ![Text reads, "the concept on everyone's mind: reskilling". ](https://blog.payworks.ca/hubfs/BlogBanner_February.jpg) # Recruitment and retention on your mind? Let’s talk reskilling Mar 13, 2023 [Resources](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/resources) ![Payworks](https://blog.payworks.ca/hubfs/Payworks%20February%202019/Images/inTheLoop-ring-150px.png) Payworks Share this article [![Share this on Facebook.](https://blog.payworks.ca/hubfs/Payworks%20February%202019/Images/button.gif)](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.payworks.ca/recruitment-and-retention-on-your-mind-lets-talk-reskilling) [![Share this on Twitter.](https://blog.payworks.ca/hubfs/Payworks%20February%202019/Images/button.gif)](http://twitter.com/share?text=A%20great%20article%20from%20Payworks!&url=https://blog.payworks.ca/recruitment-and-retention-on-your-mind-lets-talk-reskilling) [![Share this on LinkedIn.](https://blog.payworks.ca/hubfs/Payworks%20February%202019/Images/button.gif)](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.payworks.ca/recruitment-and-retention-on-your-mind-lets-talk-reskilling&title=&summary=&source) “The Great Resignation.” “Quiet firing.” “Boomerang employees.” Feel like you’ve heard enough HR buzzwords for a lifetime? Yep, us too. But there’s one word that seems to have been steadily growing in popularity, and for good reason - many are counting it among the most important areas of focus for employers in 2023. The concept on everyone’s mind: **reskilling.** We sat down with two members of our dedicated Learning & Development team to figure out what it is, why it matters (especially now!), and how leaders and businesses can embrace it to create more flexible, knowledgeable and engaged teams. ## theWorks: All right, first things first - what does “reskilling” actually mean? **![Trina Huntley.](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Trina-Huntley.jpg?width=186&height=233&name=Trina-Huntley.jpg)**   **Trina Huntley, Learning & Development Manager:** To me, re-skilling means learning a new set of skills in order to perform a different job, enhance your skill set, or even move into a new role within your current organization. We can also look at it through the lens of preparing an organization and its employees for business transformation. Reskilling committed employees supports their personal growth and creates a highly active and engaged learner.   **![Maddison Kowalczuk.](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Maddison_WPGBG_blog-1.jpg?width=213&height=213&name=Maddison_WPGBG_blog-1.jpg)**   **Maddison Kowalczuk, Learning & Development Human Resources Specialist:** I’ve also seen the terms “reskilling” and “upskilling” used interchangeably, but let’s set the record straight! While both of these terms indicate that new skills are being learned, there’s some differentiation in intention. “Upskilling” is teaching somebody skills that they can use in their current role or for linear advancement. “Reskilling” is preparing somebody for a new role altogether - for example, a Service Representative learning new skills with the goal of becoming a Developer.   ## tW: It sounds like reskilling isn’t necessarily a new concept… but maybe one that’s getting a bit more attention these days. Why do you think it’s important for businesses to be aware of it, especially now? **TH:** From my perspective, this is a time-worn concept that’s getting more attention now than ever before because of shifts in employee expectations that are here to stay! Employees have a high desire for “person-first” experiences; essentially, they want to be seen as a person, not just an employee. As a result, the best way to drive engagement and active learning is to develop employees as people and not just professionals. These employee expectations are influencing recruitment and retention for many organizations, which pushes them to take a new approach to nurturing the learning ecosystem by investing in Learning & Development. **MK:** I agree with Trina - while the idea isn’t new, it’s definitely amplified and is transforming, and the nuance of it is shifting. I think that, in so many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted humans to move towards spaces and experiences where they find the most meaning… whether that’s reclaiming work-life harmony or moving into a new role or industry about which they’re passionate. Ultimately, reskilling is an opportunity for reinvention, and that’s something many of us are finding especially exciting these days! ## tW: How can people leaders and organizations create an environment where reskilling is not only available, but a key part of the employee experience? ### 1. Inspire your employees by leading by example **TH:** Employers can take a more human-centric approach in supporting their employees’ expectations and ambitions by leading in a way that drives a clear sense of purpose (being *authentic*) while also protecting their employees’ holistic well-being (being *empathetic*). They should also ensure that productivity is sustainable over time and make sure that employees get the support that fits their unique needs (being *adaptive*). All of this sets the stage for both employers and employees to recognize and get excited about reskilling, and to be more open to change. **MK:** Absolutely - demonstrating how positive (and actually necessary) change can be is key! Task mapping or time satisfaction exercises are a great way to not only figure out how work is distributed and identify areas that employees might want to explore, but also to demonstrate organizational willingness to think differently. ### 2. Reward curiosity and promote employee ownership of their own growth **TH:** Curiosity is essential to reskilling. By their nature, curious people are inherently more open-minded to new concepts and others’ ideas and experiences, leading to greater diversity of thought. Organizations should not only encourage but also reward employee curiosity and questions! The result will be teams who can think both broader and deeper to uncover the root causes of issues and empathetically collaborate on creative solutions. **MK:** Knowing that they’re in a safe space to ask questions and express an interest in new opportunities also empowers employees to take ownership of their own growth. People leaders are there to help them identify their goals and determine their readiness to achieve those goals. These conversations should be happening regularly. Employees may bring forward new L&D opportunities that you’ve never heard of, or wouldn’t have connected the dots on yourself, but often those are the areas where they’ll be most engaged since it was their idea in the first place! **TH:** Maddi’s absolutely right. The most progressive function a leader can exercise in today's landscape is to recognize the talents of their current employees and to empower those employees to lead their own growth. ![Four Payworks staff in a presentation.](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/PayworksStock_2022_1%20(79).jpg?width=469&height=313&name=PayworksStock_2022_1%20(79).jpg) ### 3. Provide clarity to employees on what their growth path would look like **MK:** I’m a real believer in “clear is kind.” To me, it’s important for employers to foster really honest, transparent conversations with employees at the onset of their learning journey. Who’s paying for this course? What are the time commitments? Is course-related work an appropriate way to spend a workday? Are there expectations associated with the employee’s marks? **TH:** I completely agree - clarity and answers to questions like these upfront will make any reskilling much more mutually positive for both employee and employer… even if it feels a little bit awkward at first.   ### 4. Assess need… and be honest about your capacity to meet it **TH:** Once you’ve got a general sense of what the next few months of reskilling could look like for an individual or group, it’s important for their people leaders and the organization to decide what’s within and outside of the current bandwidth (and budget!). And if a high-priority opportunity falls in the latter category, can the organization adjust to make it work, or would it be better to outsource it? **MK:** If a business doesn’t have their own L&D team and is looking for outside resources, organizations like the Institute for Performance and Learning are a great place to start in finding a consultant. But of course, Trina and I would advocate for having a professional L&D team in-house! ### 5. Set up employees for success **MK:** Employees’ time has become increasingly valuable, and one way to make reskilling feel accessible and manageable is to break it into bite-sized pieces. Payworks and many other businesses have embraced microlearning - which is to say, offering up opportunities for L&D on a regular (even daily!) basis that only take a few minutes of an employees’ time. Yes, it’ll take longer to cover the content, but it makes the process feel much more approachable, and the repetition will help employees retain the information better down the road. **TH:** Employers also need to equip employees with the resources they need to learn effectively, which contributes again to nurturing a learning ecosystem as I mentioned before. This can include anything from tools and materials specific to the topic, to fostering partnerships with other subject matter experts within the organization, who can provide guidance and encouragement along the way. Employees may also discover great insights from their colleagues on how they can reskill together to work better as a team. Because learning is passed on with experience and practice, learning through other people, having conversations, sharing knowledge through networks and knowing the right people to ask the right questions at the right time are all very valuable points in your learning journey!  Spend more time on the big picture! When employee information is organized, you can finally reduce paperwork and focus on people. Learn more: [https://www.payworks.ca/solutions/human-resources](https://www.payworks.ca/solutions/human-resources).  Key topics in this article: [Resources](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/resources)[Business Owner](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/business-owner)[HR Management](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/hr-management)[HR Insights](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/hr-insights)[Workplace Culture](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/workplace-culture) These articles are produced by Payworks as an information service. They are not intended to substitute professional legal, regulatory, tax, or financial advice. Readers must rely on their own advisors, as applicable, for such advice. [![Driving change: how Payworks and our partners are helping University College of the North students reach campus](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogBanner_UCN-Vehicle_Aug7.jpg?width=300&name=BlogBanner_UCN-Vehicle_Aug7.jpg)](https://blog.payworks.ca/driving-change-how-payworks-and-our-partners-are-helping-university-college-of-the-north-students-reach-campus?hsLang=en-ca) [Pay It Forward](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/pay-it-forward) [Culture](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/culture) | August 07, 2026 Driving change: how Payworks and our partners are helping University Col… Key takeaways Payworks, Johnston Group, and Birchwood A… [![Alberta HR compliance in 2026: what you need to know](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogBanner_AB_Compliance_Aug4.jpg?width=300&name=BlogBanner_AB_Compliance_Aug4.jpg)](https://blog.payworks.ca/alberta-hr-compliance-in-2026-what-you-need-to-know?hsLang=en-ca) [Resources](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/resources) | August 04, 2026 Alberta HR compliance in 2026: what you need to know Key Takeaways Alberta employers have a focused but impo… [![National Bank of Canada and Payworks: Built for Canadian Business](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogBanner_NB-PWK_July2026.jpg?width=300&name=BlogBanner_NB-PWK_July2026.jpg)](https://blog.payworks.ca/national-bank-of-canada-and-payworks-built-for-canadian-business?hsLang=en-ca) [Resources](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/resources) | July 31, 2026 National Bank of Canada and Payworks: Built for Canadian Business Why Are Canadian Businesses Choosing Homegrown Solution… [![CPP2 and QPP2 Explained: What Canadian Employers Need to Know](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/CPP2%20and%20QPP2%20What%20Canadian%20Employers%20Need%20to%20Know%20in%202026.png?width=300&name=CPP2%20and%20QPP2%20What%20Canadian%20Employers%20Need%20to%20Know%20in%202026.png)](https://blog.payworks.ca/cpp2-and-qpp2-explained-what-canadian-employers-need-to-know?hsLang=en-ca) [Resources](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/resources) | July 21, 2026 CPP2 and QPP2 Explained: What Canadian Employers Need to Know Key Takeaways: As of January 1, 2024, Canadian employer… [![Québec HR compliance in 2026: your guide to what's in effect and what's ahead](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogBanner_QCEmployment_Law_Blog_July14.jpg?width=300&name=BlogBanner_QCEmployment_Law_Blog_July14.jpg)](https://blog.payworks.ca/quebec-hr-compliance-in-2026-your-guide-to-whats-in-effect-and-whats-ahead?hsLang=en-ca) [Resources](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/resources) | July 10, 2026 Québec HR compliance in 2026: your guide to what's in effect and what's … Key Takeaways Québec employers are navigating one of th… [![Pay transparency is now law in three provinces. Is your business ready?](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogBanner_PayTransparency_July7.jpg?width=300&name=BlogBanner_PayTransparency_July7.jpg)](https://blog.payworks.ca/pay-transparency-is-now-law-in-three-provinces-is-your-business-ready?hsLang=en-ca) [Resources](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/resources) | July 07, 2026 Pay transparency is now law in three provinces. Is your business ready? Key Takeaways [![Is your B.C. care home’s payroll data ready for the HEABC transition?](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogBanner_BCHomecare_Legisl_June30.jpg?width=300&name=BlogBanner_BCHomecare_Legisl_June30.jpg)](https://blog.payworks.ca/is-your-b.c.-care-homes-payroll-data-ready-for-the-heabc-transition?hsLang=en-ca) [Resources](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/resources) | June 30, 2026 Is your B.C. care home’s payroll data ready for the HEABC transition? Key Takeaways: Eligible unionized B.C. long-term care (… [![Record of Employment (ROE): The Canadian Employer’s Guide](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogBanner_June25.jpg?width=300&name=BlogBanner_June25.jpg)](https://blog.payworks.ca/everything-you-need-to-know-about-roes?hsLang=en-ca) [Innovation](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/innovation) | June 12, 2026 Record of Employment (ROE): The Canadian Employer’s Guide Key Takeaways: An ROE provides information on employmen… [![The Canadian 2026 guide to holiday stat pay employee eligibility](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogBanner_Legislation_April14-1.jpg?width=300&name=BlogBanner_Legislation_April14-1.jpg)](https://blog.payworks.ca/the-canadian-2026-guide-to-holiday-stat-pay-employee-eligibility?hsLang=en-ca) [Resources](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/resources) | June 09, 2026 The Canadian 2026 guide to holiday stat pay employee eligibility Statutory holiday eligibility rules differ across every… [![From reporting to understanding: meet Payworks Analytics](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogBanner_Analytics_Pro_June2026_EN_2x.jpg?width=300&name=BlogBanner_Analytics_Pro_June2026_EN_2x.jpg)](https://blog.payworks.ca/from-reporting-to-understanding-meet-payworks-analytics?hsLang=en-ca) [Innovation](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/innovation) | June 02, 2026 From reporting to understanding: meet Payworks Analytics Key Takeaways [![What do employers need to know about Québec’s National Holiday?](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogBanner_May24-1.jpg?width=300&name=BlogBanner_May24-1.jpg)](https://blog.payworks.ca/fete-nationale-du-quebec-stat-holiday-legislation?hsLang=en-ca) [Resources](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/resources) | May 29, 2026 What do employers need to know about Québec’s National Holiday? Key takeaways La fête nationale du Québec (June 24) is … [![Our leaders slide into sledge hockey, thanks to Manitoba Possible](https://blog.payworks.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogBanner_SledgeHockey_May22.jpg?width=300&name=BlogBanner_SledgeHockey_May22.jpg)](https://blog.payworks.ca/our-leaders-slide-into-sledge-hockey-thanks-to-manitoba-possible?hsLang=en-ca) [Culture](https://blog.payworks.ca/tag/culture) | May 22, 2026 Our leaders slide into sledge hockey, thanks to Manitoba Possible Think you’re a pro on skates? Maybe so… but how about o… ![ ](https://blog.payworks.ca/hubfs/Payworks%20Stock%20Photography/Cavan%20-%20Arlee.png) ## Seeing is believing! Curious what better Canadian workforce management looks like in action (and how much time you could reclaim in your day-to-day)? Book a pressure-free, get-to-know you demo today. [REQUEST A DEMO](https://www.payworks.ca/landing-pages/campaigns/book-a-demo) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Payworks", "url" : "https://blog.payworks.ca/author/payworks" }, "dateModified" : "2023-03-24T15:18:06.991Z", "datePublished" : "2023-03-13T13:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Recruitment and retention on your mind? Let’s talk reskilling", "image" : [ "https://blog.payworks.ca/hubfs/BlogPost_ReSkilling_February.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.payworks.ca/recruitment-and-retention-on-your-mind-lets-talk-reskilling", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.payworks.ca/hubfs/Payworks.png" }, "name" : "Payworks" } } ```