b"A letter from Terry Seabury, WECA Executive Director andCEO:WECA and its member contractors believe strongly in the importance oftraining. Its why were all here! But sometimes its nice to get a reminder ofwhats in it for your company. Formally training employees is essential for yourprofits for several reasons.Competitive advantage: Electrical contracting companies that invest in employee training have acompetitive advantage over those that don't. Well-trained employees aremore valuable to the company and can help the company win more bids andcontracts. There are several studies that have shown that formal trainingprograms, such as WECAs apprenticeship and electrician trainee certificateprograms, can lead to increased profits for electrical contractors. Here are afew examples: The US Department of Labor has reported that for every dollar invested in apprenticeship programs,employers receive an average of $1.47 in increased productivity, reduced waste, and improved quality. The US Department of labor also reports that 90% of employers reported that apprenticeship programs ledto improvements in their talent pipelines and increased employee loyalty.A workplace survey report found that 94% of surveyed employees responded that if a company invested inhelping them learn, they would stay longer. Membership in WECA means your organization has offloaded the considerable fixed costs involved indeveloping and delivering an apprenticeship or training program, including curriculum development;training equipment purchases; quality instruction; administration, overhead, and management; attentionto adherence with governmental regulations; classroom and lab space; and recruitment.Safety: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has found that companies that participate informal training programs have lower injury rates and fewer accidents than those that do not. Efficiency: Well-trained employees are more efficient and productive, which can save time and money. They are less likely tomake mistakes or need guidance, reducing the need for rework or corrections. Employees who are trained inthe latest construction techniques and technologyand WECAs curriculum explores the cutting edgecan also work more efficiently, completing projects faster and with better quality.Id like to leave you with the following thought. Its one which, since youre a member of WECA, you already know.But its worth a moments reflection: Investing in quality apprenticeship and training pays for itself. Thank you for your partnership with us. We value and honor it every day.Sincerely,"