WASHINGTON – Some American businesses are switching things up by giving employees the chance to compete in a different department or swap places with a colleague.

Job rotation is not new to the business world, according to The Wall Street Journal. But many companies are finding short term moves help workers sharpen their skills, stay motivated and discover new career goals. Plus, it helps the company foster interdepartmental cooperation.

“In organizations today there is more emphasis on adaptability, teamwork and learning agility. Companies have to be flexible about creating opportunities for employees to opt into projects,” says Caroline Paxman, president of the Americas for SHL, a talent measurement firm, tells the Journal.

Forty-three percent of employers offer some kind of cross-training to help workers develop skills that may not be related to their current jobs, according to a 2011 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management.

Intel Corp. is one of those employers, offering its employees the opportunity to “test-drive a job or make connections in different departments,” says Amreen Madhani who oversees the program.

While the moves can be challenging for employees and disrupt workflow, experts say a temporary job change can be valuable to companies looking to keep its restless workforce engaged.

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