What are some reinforcing consequences you can deliver either immediately following the desired behavior or following a work shift– things that this particular student enjoys, wants, seeks out, etc..?
When possible, adjust the sequence of tasks so that a particularly difficult task (e.g. entering new periodicals into the system) is followed by a break initially. Can you adjust the sequence by getting permission from the supervisor to grant an additional water break after certain tasks, at least initially in training? Work with the student to identify appropriate break activities that will be motivating to him.
For some students who work in less structured settings and are learning self-management strategies, it is vital to teach them to arrange their work tasks in a way that sustains their own motivation (e.g. First I will do this task I don’t like, then I will do this task that I do like; I work best when I alternate between these kinds of tasks).
Are you using labeling and social praise to make the contingency between desired behavior and reinforcing consequence clear to the student?
In some cases, the student will try to seek out too much confirmation from supervisors and co-workers which may create tension on the site. Consider scheduling predictable, specific times when someone will give feedback on performance. Over time, the goal would be to fade out the frequency of that feedback to a rate that aligns with what naturally occurs in a work site.
What reinforcing consequences can you arrange that are more naturally or intrinsically connected to the hard skill you are teaching?