Training - A Company or a Worker's Responsibility?

r0wan asks: "I'm currently working as a Microsoft Systems Administrator. Through a series of bungled management decisions, have found myself responsible for a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory network, that I know nothing about (the person who was sent for training was: not the Microsoft point person, as I was; and left the company, soon after the domain upgrade). It doesn't look as though training will be forthcoming, and I've just been moved from the lab, where I was training myself while simultaneously handling the domain. I've got the MCSA/MCSE Training Kit, but recently I've found numerous errors, so many that I was sent a free Press Kit book, for submitting all of the errors I had found. Between management's reluctance to shell out for training, and being moved from the lab, I'm getting the distinct sense that training is something I'm expected to take care of, on my own time. Is this the de-facto standard within IT, and for all jobs within IT? If so, how do you Slashdot readers keep up with your continuing education, while still maintaining a personal life? Is it naive to try to leave my work at work?" "I'm especially interested in hearing from the Slashdot readers of the female persuasion, as I have a husband, a dog, and a household to keep up with (no kids by choice, but I wouldn't have the time to take care of them, even if I wanted to). I also have the added responsibility of being the primary breadwinner. My free time is valuable in that it allows me to take care of that which I can't during the day (grocery shopping, dog responsibilities, cleaning, etc), and decompress/de-stress in order to prepare for the next day's work. I like tinkering with computers and learning new stuff, but I fear that if I'm expected train myself, outside of work, I may need to consider a different career.

Thanks in advance for the input."

Comments

Training

[flosofl]

I have eight guys in my specific dept (a section of security). As it stands right now, we are averaging about 10,000 USD per person for training this year. It will probably double before the end.

Every company I've worked for (small, large, huge) have either paid for or reimbursed employees for relevant training.

Re:Oddly enough...

[Pseudonym]

Do you trust the US gov't with that kind of control over your family?

The USA is the only country in the developed world without nationalised health care. Appropriately, the US government is the only government in the developed world that I wouldn't trust with that kind of control.

Incidentally, not every nationalised health care system is like the British NHS. In Australia, for example, you basically pick which doctor/pharmacy/hospital you want and get a fixed amount of money back from the government. Doctors get to charge what they want. Some doctors charge only what the government gives you, and therefore are effectively free. Others charge more, and so you have to pay some money. And, of course, you are free to buy extra health insurance if you want.

In all cases, the government doesn't make the choices. You do.