Number of training hours provided for employees (full-time, part-time, or temporary) during the reporting period.
Organizations should footnote the types of training provided, particularly those that lead to recognized certifications.
This metric is intended to capture the sum of all training hours provided to employees. It is not intended to capture the average number of training hours per employee. Trainings may include both internal and external opportunities provided by the organization.
Training can be categorized as: (a) skills-based training to advance core job responsibilities (enhancing employees' ability to do their jobs effectively); (b) skills-based training on cross-job functions (training beyond regular job responsibilities, enabling employees' to advance in their professions); (c) training on literacy, communications, and other life skills; or (d) trainings related to diversity and inclusion (for example, training on implicit bias or sexual harassment). Organizations should footnote details on the training(s) provided, including the type.
This metric is useful in calculating GRI Disclosure 404-1: Average hours of training per year per employee. In the context of this GRI standard, ‘training’ refers to all types of vocational training and instruction, paid educational leave provided by an organization for its employees, training or education pursued externally and paid for in whole or in part by an organization, and training on specific topics. Training does not include on-site coaching by supervisors.
Organizations may use Full-Time Employees: Total (OI3160) and Part-Time Employees: Total (OI8864) to disaggregate this metric. Organizations are also encouraged to calculate this indicator for Temporary Employees (OI9028). Organizations may choose to use Target Stakeholder Demographic (PD5752) to disaggregate this metric by gender, race/ethnicity, disability, or other groupings.
Metrics identified as "cross-category" are those that are relevant to any IRIS+ Impact Category or Impact Theme (i.e., these metrics are not specific to any particular industry/category or theme).
June 2022 - IRIS v5.3 Released (current version)
Immaterial change. Minor revision to usage guidance for clarity.
May 2021 - IRIS v5.2 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to Usage Guidance for clarity.
January 2020 - IRIS v5.1 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to Usage Guidance for clarity.
May 2019 - IRIS v5.0 Released
No change.
March 2016 - IRIS v4.0 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to metric name in order to align with the catalog's structure and style.
March 2014 - IRIS v3.0 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to definition language for clarity.
November 2011 - IRIS v2.2 Released
No change.
February 2011 - IRIS v2.1 Released
No change.
September 2010 - IRIS v2.0 Released
Material change. Total Employee Training Hours (OI7877) replaced Number of Full-time Training Hours (OT31). IRIS ID changed due to framework upgrade. Metric modified to include all employees, not just full-time.
September 2009 - IRIS v1.0 Released
New metric. Number of Full-time Training Hours (OT31) was developed via the Original IRIS Working Group.
IRIS Metrics Work Better in Sets
To use IRIS metrics—and the resulting data—to understand impact performance, IRIS metrics should be used and analyzed in generally accepted sets and according to well-defined objectives. IRIS+ gives you access to generally accepted Core Metrics Sets aligned to common Impact Themes and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).