Teaching employees multiple facets of the business helps broaden their development while increasing their attachment to the company, says Mary Jawgiel, program director, Industrial Careers Pathway, in Benefits of Cross Training.

“The more people know about your organization, the more they feel a part of it and the harder it’s going to be for them to say goodbye," she says. "It’s not that they won’t – there’s no guarantee – but you’re going to make it harder because they’re investing themselves in you as you are in them.”

This approach also helps companies bounce back quickly after losing an employee.

"If you have somebody who already knows what that position is, they can cover for you until you refill that position,” says Jawgiel.

Read more about the benefits of broadening employee development in Benefits of Cross Training.