Many organizations are recognizing the benefits of WorkKeys skills assessments and the KeyTrain interactive career readiness learning tool. Employers are not only implementing WorkKeys for recruiting and hiring but also employing both WorkKeys and KeyTrain as development tools to improve the skills of their incumbent workforce. An increasing number of anecdotal success stories point to measurable results for employers, such as reduced turnover, fewer employee errors and significant cost savings, including reduced waste and less time required for additional employee training.

If California is to maintain its competitive edge in today's global economy, employers and educators must work together to prepare the workforce for the expanded skills required for Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). The shift from an economy dominated by manufacturing, transportation and energy to an information, knowledge and innovation economy is dramatically reflected in rapidly evolving and converging technologies, including computer hardware and software, networking, telecommunications, the Internet, programming, information systems and digital media.

While employers continue to look to colleges and universities to produce their future ICT workforce, they must also address the technology skills gap of their current workers. As a result, many employers are implementing a wide range of basic to advanced training programs to enhance the technical skills of employees at all levels of their organizations. Increased on-the-job training ranging from basic computer skills to advanced Excel spreadsheets reflects a growing recognition that the speed of technological change requires improved technical competency from all workers, regardless of their roles or responsibilities.

Workplace violence represents one of the fastest growing categories of homicide in the US and is now one of the leading causes of job related deaths. A quick survey of recent headlines highlights the tragic consequences of violent incidents in the workplace. Almost one in five on-the-job fatalities are the result of workplace violence, and these statistics don't include employees who suffer serious and often life threatening injuries.

Workplace violence is any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site. It ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide, and can affect and involve employees, clients, customers and visitors.

Employers have a legal obligation to respond to incidents of threats and harassment and to provide a safe environment for employees, customers and the public. Under federal law, enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, organizations have an obligation to provide a workplace "free from recognized hazards."