Cross-training your employees is an effective way to enhance productivity and avoid turnover. It improves teamwork by giving your workers first-hand experience into what it takes to do their co-worker’s tasks. It also can help improve your company’s safety performance.

At Doritex Corp., Alden, NY, employees in all production jobs and almost every management and clerical position receive cross-training. The family-owned company has about 80 employees.

“It’s constant. We are continuously cross-training. The production manager will make a schedule, but sometimes it will happen organically as well,” says Pauline Hayes, general manager.

Training consultants note that effective cross-training takes time and ...