A good onboarding process can be critical to win over new employees as it’s the true “first impression” as a new employee. It’s an opportunity to engage and make them feel a part of a great organization. However, a bad onboarding experience can lead to employees jumping to premature conclusion or possibly leaving the job early. It is estimated that nearly one-third of all new hires quit their jobs within the first 6 months.
If onboarding wasn’t challenging enough, now you are needing to do it remotely. While it can be harder, you should take the time to ensure that all new employees have a great experience. Below are some tips to make the transition easier.
Utilize Technology
New hires are inundated with HR paperwork to sign and send back. Utilize services like DocuSign and HelloSign for new employees to add their signature digitally. Many ATS solutions have, or are increasing the automation capabilities.
Welcome Package
Welcome the new team member with some company swag. It is a great way for new hires to feel a part of the team. A simple notebook, tumbler or company t-shirt goes a long way.
Computer
Many companies already struggle with having technology ready on day 1. And the new environment has added delays to the order process. Plan ahead and ensure that your new hire has the necessary equipment they need to start on the first day. Have IT work with them the first morning to ensure everything is working properly.
Communication/Collaboration Tools
Whether you use Zoom, Microsoft Teams or a combination of different products for collaboration, ensure that your new hire is set up and understands how-to use the different applications.
Company Culture
It is important for a new employee to understand the company culture. It is more critical than ever to utilize videos and documents to show the culture.
Expectations
Set expectations for working remotely right from the beginning. When/how the team will be communicating, meetings, one-on-one check-ins, etc. are all important for both sides to have an agreement.
Staying Engaged
It’s important to check in early and often and really understand how the person is doing personally. It is critical to making sure they feel welcome and connected with this new dynamic.
Higher Levels of Management
Have individuals at higher levels of management reach out to welcome the new employee to your organization. This is akin to senior management stopping by a person’s office in the first week to welcome them and offer an open door. A personal phone call/email will go a long way.
While it can be difficult to change your onboarding process with remote workers, there needs to be a focus on it. Take a bit of time and plan. That first day, week and month can be a very influential time for a new hire. If you need additional onboarding support, reach out to our HR Advisory team at HRA@TalentBridge.com.