The influence of factors beyond the immediate training context only recently has been considered in research on training effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the work environment on pretraining motivation, and the subsequent impact of pretraining motivation on two training effectiveness criteria: knowledge acquisition and training reactions. Using data collected from two foodservice safety training programs, the results from correlation and regression analyses showed that trainee perceptions about managerial support for training, as well as perceptions about the availability of equipment necessary to utilize training, had a direct influence on pretraining motivation. The results also showed that pretraining motivation was directly related to knowledge acquisition and positive reactions to training.