Verizon Lauded by 'Training' Magazine for Company's Innovative Employee Learning and Development Programs

NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Training magazine has named Verizon as having one of the best corporate training programs in the nation, citing the company's increased use of social media and electronic learning and development platforms.  Verizon is ranked third on the publication's 2011 Training Top 125, a list of companies that have the best training and development programs for employees.

"We're using a variety of new tools and training resources aimed at keeping our workforce informed, engaged and on the leading edge of our company and industry," said Marc Reed, Verizon's executive vice president of human resources.  "We take pride in knowing our innovative learning and development programs have become the standard that many other companies now emulate."

Training magazine praised Verizon's innovative use of video training modules, webinars, remote labs and virtual classrooms, which are an integral part of the company's learning and development opportunities for employees.

The publication also highlighted Verizon's growing implementation of social media to enable employees to engage and learn about new products and services.  The company has created platforms called Device Blogs, Device Forums and Learning Communities, and encourages employees to be active participants.  Similar to external technology blogs, the internal training tools allow employees to learn about new devices and applications, ask questions, and create and post how-to videos on ways to learn about Verizon's products and services.

"These platforms enable our employees to become better informed and more productive in all that they're engaged with," said Reed.  "The platforms also support our efforts to encourage our workforce to look at opportunities and tackle challenges in new ways.  With all of our programs, our goal is to make our great customer experience even better."

Lorri Freifeld, editor-in-chief of Training magazine, said, "While Verizon is changing the classroom approach to suit the new generation of learners, it is also preparing its leaders to serve as vehicles of change themselves.  This is increasingly important as technology and training delivery systems continue to evolve, learners need to be trained faster and better than ever before, and leaders need to communicate and drive transformation throughout their organizations."

Verizon is planning to further its use of social network platforms, expanding implementation of peer-to-peer collaborations, knowledge and document-sharing tools, and new working groups that will continually look at ways to improve learning and the customer experience.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 94.1 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon