Passport Program

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

The Riverside County Human Resources (HR) Department “Passport Program” is an innovative, fun, and creative travel-themed cross-training program intended to grow and develop our existing workforce. The program was developed internally by Riverside County HR’s Learning & Organizational Development division, in an effort to provide cross-training opportunities to staff who serve in a specialist capacity and would not otherwise have an opportunity to learn new skills or work outside of their specialist assignment. Participation in the Passport Program enables a staff member, or “traveler,” to learn skills in another functional area by working on pre-determined tasks or projects for a set period of time. Opportunities for cross-training assignments, or “travel alerts,” are advertised to the department and interested employees are granted the travel assignment on a first come, first serve basis. The program began on July 1st, 2020, and since implementation has had numerous employees not only complete their travel to another “destination team” and acquire new skills, but we have also had several of these staff members compete for and secure regular positions with the team that they traveled to. Travelers report great success in the program through the acquisition of new skills, knowledge, and an appreciation for other division’s work.