Cross-training is best described as

• A. Developing employees to perform multiple functions.
• B. Limiting employees to one task
• C. Replacing staff with contractors
• D. Eliminating training programs

Answer: (A)

Cross-training means training employees to perform multiple tasks or functions beyond their primary role. In facilities management, this approach lets a technician handle several areas—such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing—so they can step in when another worker is absent or when workloads fluctuate. The big advantages are greater staffing flexibility and continuity of operations; with a workforce capable of covering different functions, downtime is reduced, scheduling becomes more efficient, and teams collaboratively understand how systems interact.

Choosing options that limit people to one task, replace staff with contractors, or remove training altogether would undermine these benefits. Limiting roles reduces flexibility, contractors introduce dependency for every task, and removing training eliminates the skill development that makes cross-training possible.