In a typical work environment, employees forget 50% of the information they learn within an hour of training. After a week, they retain only about 10% if the knowledge isn’t reinforced. This is known as the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve, a well-documented psychological phenomenon that illustrates how quickly information fades from memory.

For businesses, this knowledge loss directly affects productivity, safety, and compliance—especially in industries where precision and up-to-date skills are critical. Refresher training helps counteract this decline by reinforcing essential knowledge, addressing evolving industry practices, and ensuring employees remain effective.

Let’s explore how organizations can implement and benefit from refresher training.

What Is Refresher Training and Why Does It Matter?

Refresher training is a structured learning approach designed to reinforce and update employees' knowledge and skills. Unlike initial training, which introduces new concepts, refresher training revisits previously covered material to ensure retention, accuracy, and application in the workplace.

This type of training is particularly valuable in industries where compliance, safety, and technical proficiency are essential, such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and customer service. It helps employees stay current with regulatory changes, company policies, and industry best practices while correcting misconceptions or outdated methods. Refresher training can take various forms, including in-person workshops, e-learning modules, simulations, or microlearning sessions.

The goal is to bridge knowledge gaps, prevent skill decay, and enhance overall job performance. By systematically reintroducing key concepts at regular intervals, companies can ensure that employees apply their skills effectively, reducing errors, improving efficiency, and maintaining a high standard of work.

How to Tell If Your Workplace Needs Refresher Training

• Increase in Mistakes or Quality Issues – If errors are becoming more frequent in production, customer service, or compliance-related tasks, it could signal that employees are forgetting or misapplying essential procedures.
• Declining Productivity or Efficiency – When tasks take longer than they should or require frequent corrections, employees often struggle to recall the correct processes. This can slow down workflows and impact business outcomes.
• Higher Number of Safety Incidents – In industries where workplace safety is a priority, a rise in accidents, injuries, or near-misses suggests employees may not consistently follow established protocols. Regular refresher training can help reinforce safety procedures and reduce risk.
• Compliance Violations or Regulatory Issues – If your organization faces audits, fines, or other compliance issues, it may indicate that employees are not up to date on industry regulations or company policies. This is especially critical in highly regulated healthcare, finance, and manufacturing sectors.
• Knowledge Gaps Exposed in Employee Assessments – Routine evaluations, quizzes, or on-the-job assessments can reveal areas where employees struggle. If knowledge gaps persist across teams, it’s a strong sign that previous training needs reinforcement.
• Low Confidence or Hesitation in Decision-Making – When employees second-guess themselves or frequently seek clarification on routine tasks, they are not fully confident in their knowledge. This hesitation can lead to inefficiency and a lack of agility in fast-paced work environments.
• Increase in Customer Complaints or Service Issues – Poor customer interactions, whether due to miscommunication, incorrect information, or slow response times, often stem from a lack of familiarity with company policies or service protocols. Regular refresher training ensures employees provide consistent and accurate service.

Running Effective Refresher Training Online with an LMS

Step 1: Develop a Targeted Training Plan

Organizations need a clear and structured plan before launching refresher training through a learning management system (LMS). A well-designed training plan ensures the content is relevant, effective, and aligned with business objectives.

Start by identifying the specific skills, policies, or procedures that require reinforcement. This can be based on performance data, compliance requirements, or feedback from managers and employees. Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach—tailor the training to different roles and departments to address their unique needs.

Next, determine the training frequency. Some topics, like cybersecurity protocols or compliance updates, may require annual refreshers, while technical skills or customer service training might need quarterly reinforcement. Setting a schedule helps prevent knowledge gaps from forming over time.

Define clear learning outcomes for each refresher module. Employees should know what they’re expected to gain from the training and how it applies to their daily responsibilities. This keeps the training focused and measurable.

Finally, choose the most effective content format for your workforce. Depending on the topic, refresher training can include short video tutorials, interactive quizzes, scenario-based simulations, or microlearning modules. Keeping content engaging and to the point helps maximize retention and participation.

Step 2: Evaluate Existing Training Content and Identify Gaps

Before rolling out refresher training through an LMS, assessing whether current materials are still relevant and practical is essential. Training content that was useful a year ago may no longer align with updated policies, industry standards, or company objectives. A thorough review ensures employees receive accurate, up-to-date information.

Start by analyzing past training performance. Use LMS analytics to track completion rates, quiz scores, and engagement levels. If employees struggled with specific modules or frequently failed assessments, those areas likely need reinforcement or revision.

Next, gather feedback from employees and managers. Frontline workers often have firsthand insights into where knowledge gaps exist, while managers can pinpoint recurring errors or inefficiencies in workflows. This input helps refine training content to address real-world challenges.

Compare existing materials against new industry regulations, compliance requirements, or technological advancements. Outdated content can lead to misinformation, compliance violations, or inefficiencies, so keeping training aligned with current standards is critical.

Once outdated or ineffective materials are identified, decide whether to update, replace, or supplement them. Some content may only require minor revisions, while other topics might benefit from new formats such as interactive simulations, video tutorials, or scenario-based learning.

Step 3: Develop Engaging and Effective Learning Materials

Once outdated content has been identified and knowledge gaps are apparent, the next step is to create high-quality learning materials that reinforce key concepts and improve retention. The effectiveness of refresher training depends on what is taught and how it is delivered. Employees stay engaged more and retain information when the training is concise, interactive, and relevant to their daily tasks.

Start by choosing the correct content formats based on the subject matter and learning objectives. A microlearning module with short, focused lessons may be practical for straightforward policy updates.

Consider scenario-based training where employees apply knowledge in simulated real-world situations for complex skills. If compliance training requires demonstration, video tutorials or interactive walkthroughs can simplify explanations. A mix of formats keeps training engaging and accessible for different learning preferences.

Incorporate quizzes, assessments, and gamified elements to make learning materials interactive and engaging. Branching scenarios, where employees make decisions and see the consequences, reinforce critical thinking and application.

Quick knowledge checks between sections ensure employees grasp key takeaways before moving forward. The goal is to make refresher training more than just passive content consumption.

For text-based content, ensure it is concise, visually structured, and easy to digest. Employees are more likely to absorb information when broken down into bite-sized sections with clear headers, bullet points, and relevant visuals. Overloading them with long paragraphs of policy updates or technical jargon reduces retention.

Finally, ensure mobile compatibility. Many employees complete refresher training during breaks or between tasks, so making materials accessible on smartphones and tablets increases participation rates. A responsive design allows employees to review content anytime, anywhere.

Step 4: Clearly Communicate the Purpose of Refresher Training

Even the best-designed training will be ineffective if employees don’t understand why they need it. Many workers see refresher training as an unnecessary repetition of what they already know, leading to disengagement or passive participation. To maximize impact, organizations must clearly communicate why the training matters and how it benefits employees and the company.

Start by explaining the relevance of the training in a way that connects to employees’ daily responsibilities. Instead of presenting it as a routine requirement, highlight how it helps them avoid mistakes, improve efficiency, stay compliant with industry regulations, or advance in their roles. Employees are more likely to engage when they see the direct impact on their work.

Use real-world examples to illustrate why refresher training is necessary. For instance, share data on common mistakes, past compliance violations, or customer service issues that refresher training aims to address. Employees who see evidence of knowledge gaps are more likely to take the training seriously.

Personalize the message based on job roles. A generic company-wide announcement may not resonate as strongly as targeted communication that speaks to specific teams. A safety training refresher, for example, should be framed differently for warehouse staff than office employees. Tailoring communication ensures employees see the training as relevant rather than a checkbox exercise.

Encourage manager involvement to reinforce the message. Employees are more likely to engage when leadership actively supports and emphasizes the importance of refresher training. Having managers discuss training objectives in team meetings or provide personal insights on why it matters can boost participation.

Finally, address potential resistance by framing refresher training as a valuable opportunity rather than a chore. Employees should see it as a chance to refine their skills, stay competitive, and grow within the company. Reinforce that refresher training isn’t about questioning their abilities but keeping everyone sharp and current in an evolving workplace.

Step 5: Select the Best Way to Deliver Training

How refresher training is deployed directly impacts engagement and effectiveness. While traditional methods like in-person workshops or printed manuals may still have their place, they can be time-consuming, costly, and challenging to track. A Learning Management System (LMS) offers a far more efficient solution by delivering training in a flexible, scalable, and trackable format.

With an LMS, employees can complete refresher training on-demand, reducing downtime and ensuring minimal disruption to daily operations. Features like automated course assignments, real-time progress tracking, and interactive learning tools enhance engagement and knowledge retention. Whether through microlearning modules, quizzes, or scenario-based training, an LMS makes refresher training more accessible and practical.

Step 6: Deploy Training for Maximum Engagement

The focus shifts to seamless delivery once the refresher training materials are ready. An LMS simplifies deployment by automating course assignments, sending reminders, and tracking real-time progress. To keep employees engaged, structure training into bite-sized modules, incorporate interactive elements, and allow self-paced learning.

Ensure accessibility by making the training available on multiple devices so employees can complete it conveniently. Monitor participation rates and gather feedback to fine-tune the learning experience.

Step 7: Collect Feedback and Improve

Refresher training isn’t a one-time event—it should evolve based on employee needs. After deployment, gather feedback through surveys, quizzes, or direct discussions to assess engagement and effectiveness. Look at LMS analytics to track completion rates, performance trends, and areas where employees struggle.

Use this data to refine content, adjust delivery methods, and improve future training sessions. When employees see their input leads to improvements, they become more invested in the learning process.

Core Competency Is the Partner for Your Employees’ Skill Growth Journey

Core Competency’s Learning Management System (LMS) is designed for organizations that prioritize continuous learning and workforce development. It offers automated course delivery, progress tracking, and real-time reporting, ensuring that refresher training is streamlined and effective.

The platform supports SCORM-compliant content, mobile accessibility, and interactive learning tools, making it easy for employees to engage with training anytime, anywhere. With customizable learning paths and AI-driven insights, companies can tailor training to individual needs, keeping employees sharp and compliant.

Let us help you build a learning culture that drives performance—reach out today to see our LMS in action.