The task of scheduling a training or other HRD program isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Organizations can be busy, hectic, and unpredictable environments, making scheduling HRD and other activities very difficult. The goal in scheduling an HRD program is to ensure that the participants (both trainer(s) and learners) are available and have their attention focused on the learning task at hand.

Running the program during normal working hours avoids outside conflicts and sends a message to employees that learning is an important part of their job. The day of the week becomes an issue because employees often favor some days for time off, such as Monday, Friday, and the days surrounding a holiday. Programs scheduled for the start or end of the workday may face a significant proportion of tardy or tired participants. The trainer should be aware of these issues and take steps to deal with them as best as possible.

Peak work hours are the times of the day, week, month, or year that departments are the busiest and when scheduling a training program would cause a potential conflict. Managers and supervisors should also be contacted before scheduling programs to determine if participants have any staff meetings, travel requirements, or any other special scheduling needs. It should be clear to participants and managers how one should register for training, who is responsible for logistical, and what people should do if they need to cancel or reschedule their training.