Individuals need to take responsibility for their learning and development on themselves. Banking on companies for their development is impractical and maybe even dangerous.

Lets look at some of the realities related to the engagement between the employees and employers:

1. The employee - employer engagement period has been coming down over the years.

2. Changes in technologies and business landscapes are happening rapidly

3. Most employers excluding the large mature ones lack the necessary HR competencies

All the above factors contribute to the lessening of the responsibility the employer can take for the development of its employees.

In one of the companies I worked there was this constant response from when Project Managers when asked why they were not permitting their reportees to attend training sessions. The response was "what is the point, within a 12 to 18 months these guys are going to leave, what is the point in training them". The issue is not whether this premise is right or wrong but the fact that this thinking persists and influences the approach of companies to its employees in training and developing them.

We have already seen two business cycles in this decade. Companies have been wiped off. Newer companies have emerged. Technologies have changed rapidly. Given the increase unpredictably companies try best to balance the short term plans with the long term perspectives. One fall out of this would be to focus and increase "utilisation", "productivity" of employees. This is leads to lesser attention on the long term view on employee development.

Finally, HR which also the role of custodian of long term needs of employees has seen its influence or effectiveness come down over the years. Churn in the HR function, perceived ineffectiveness of HR, greater focus on the operations have all contributed to HR not being to fully deliver the responsibility of fulfillment of the long term needs of the employees.

All the above factors contribute to decrease in the involvement of employers in the training and development of employees. Nevertheless, for the very same factors which requires companies to adapt, individuals need to adapt, learn, upgrade their skill and pay attention to their development. They will have to take the responsibility on this on themselves and not leave it to be fulfilled by the employers. If they shun this responsibility, employers will shun them sooner or later.