Item - 2015.AU2.6

The Audit Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council request the City Manager to ensure that Divisional Service plans include training plans which address compliance requirements, Corporate priorities and Talent Blueprint objectives.  Divisions will share their plans with Human Resources Division to develop an overall Corporate Training Plan.

2.  City Council request the City Manager to develop performance measures to evaluate progress in achieving Talent Blueprint goals and objectives and provide annual reports to City Council.

3.  City Council request the City Manager to update City training costs and cost per employee to reflect actual City costs.

4.  City Council request the Executive Director, Human Resources, in consultation with City Divisions, to review and update the Corporate core competency model.

5.  City Council request the Executive Director, Human Resources, in consultation with City Divisions, to support the identification of employee learning and development needs and related actions.

6.  City Council request the Executive Director, Human Resources, in consultation with City Divisions, to formalize a City-wide needs assessment process to identify gaps between actual and required core competencies for employees.

7.  City Council request the Executive Director, Human Resources, in consultation with City Divisions, to formalize and implement an evaluation framework measuring training effectiveness.

8.  City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with City Divisions, to evaluate courses with low attendance and if deemed necessary and useful, consider alternative methods of delivery.

9.  City Council request the City Manager to establish a Corporate reporting protocol clearly outlining roles and responsibilities for systematic reporting on City training activities, achievements and costs.

10.  City Council request the City Manager to ensure compliance with legislated training requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act by September 2015 and such compliance be reported to City Council.

The Auditor General’s 2014 Audit Work Plan included an audit of City-wide training activities and operational controls.  The Human Resources Division provides corporate training initiatives and related support to City Divisions and employees.  The purpose of the audit was to determine if training services delivered by the Human Resources Division are effective and efficient.

As the City has been involved in the development and implementation of an Enterprise Learning Management System we also reviewed controls over the planning, development and implementation of the first phase of this information technology project.

This report focuses on the administration of Corporate training services provided by the City Human Resources Division.  A separate report addresses controls over the planning, development and implementation of the Enterprise Learning Management System and will be tabled at the June 2015 Audit Committee.

The City of Toronto’s workforce is a key resource for the City.  The labour costs for a workforce of over 34,500 employees accounts for almost half of the City’s operating budget.  A properly trained workforce has been shown to be more productive.

Addressing the recommendations in this audit report will strengthen the controls to ensure the City's investment in Corporate training initiatives is being effectively and efficiently used to improve on the knowledge and skills of the City's workforce.  The actions taken by management will align certain divisional training requirements with the Corporate training plan.  This will support the achievement of City Council's strategic directions for the workforce as outlined in the Talent Blueprint.

This report contains ten recommendations along with management's response to each recommendation.