Onboarding new employees is not just about showing them round the office; it is about integrating them into the business. The onboarding process should start from day one – if not before. Incredibly, 33% of new hires start looking for a new job within six months and much of this is down to the onboarding process. If you have ever been in the situation where you have arrived for your first day at a new job and you have no desk, chair, or log in information, you are definitely not alone. Surveys have suggested that over 20% of employees have been in this position and these seemingly minor details, could be costing your business.
The Onboarding Process
Starting a new job is daunting, even if you are the most confident person in the world. You are going into the unknown. In some cases, you may have left another job and you might be worried you are going from the frying pan into the fire. It is, therefore, the responsibility of your new employer to ensure your worries are eased and you are made to feel comfortable from the day you arrive. The onboarding process should start as soon as you are offered a new role and the more attention employers pay to this, the more likely their employees will stay.
How Can I Make Onboarding Better?
Any reasonable employer will understand that their employees are their bread and butter. Without good employees, you can have the best product or service in the world, but you won’t be hugely successful. Unfortunately, many employers don’t consider their employees enough and this includes the way they are treated when they first sign the contract. These are some important steps employers should take in the onboarding process.
- Follow up before start date – it is a good idea to give your new employee a call before they start their new job. Make sure they know where to go, what to do and check if they have any questions.
- The right equipment – whether your employee is a construction worker or an office worker, they need tools to their job and they should have them from day one. The last thing a new employee wants to do is start scrabbling around trying to find a toolbox or notepad. Everything should be ready to go for their arrival. Anything less, looks unprofessional and makes the employee feel undervalued.
- Set expectations – make sure your new employee understands what is expected of them. If you don’t explain this, don’t start getting aggrieved if they don’t meet your expectations.
- Give them a buddy – we all have a responsibility to be aware of the mental health of other people and this is no different in the workplace. As many as 80% of workers find it difficult to concentrate when suffering from mental ill health and the way employees are treated in the workplace can have a huge impact on this. Most people spend the majority of their life at work so it is vital that they have at least one person they can communicate with. The importance of a buddy system should never be underestimated. Employers should never (ever) leave someone feeling isolated in the workplace. Teaming a new start up with someone from day one can go a long way to helping reduce mental health issues in the workplace.
- Answer questions – make sure your new start has a contact to speak to about any issues they may be having and ensure these are dealt with quickly.
The Importance of Onboarding
A strong onboarding process can ease anxiety and stress, it can make the new employee feel welcome from day one. It can also improve engagement and engaged employees are less likely to want to leave. Employees feel valued if they are treated with respect and a good onboarding process can help to achieve this. With candidate shortages ever on the increase, it is time for employers to look carefully at their onboarding processes and make changes were necessary.
If you need assistance with your onboarding process or any other HR functions, get in touch with us and we’ll provide you with a tailored plan to suit your needs.
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