Onboarding New Employees

What does “onboarding employees” mean? 

Onboarding was first created in the 1970’s as a process used after hiring new employees, to introduce them the aspects of their new job. The goal for this method is not only to allow new hires to become familiar with the job, but also to increase productivity, job satisfaction, and reduce employee turnover.

can be pretty competitive so it’s important that your business has an onboarding system in place when you find a good prospective employee for a position at your business. Below are some things to consider in your process.

• Keep in touch before the start date.
  Even after a verbal acceptance of the position and a contract is signed, potential employees may still be talking to other businesses and could easily rescind their acceptance. That’s why you should check in periodically to answer any questions and tell them what to expect on the first day of employment.
  
  
• Schedule one-on-one meetings with supervisor(s).
  Microsoft Analytics did a survey and found that employees who got little or no one-on-one time with managers were more likely to be disengaged. A LinkedIn survey found 72% of respondents said that the most important part of their onboarding process was the one-on-one time. It didn’t matter if the meetings take place in person or virtually. You should also consider scheduling several one-on-one meetings with the new employee’s manager throughout the first few months of employment.
  
  
• Schedule meetings with other team members.
  Getting to know other employees that your new employee will be working with is just as important as the one-on-one meetings with supervisors. These meetings will benefit new employees by developing personal connections with other employees throughout the business. These meetings will give you an idea if the new employee is a good fit for your business and how well they will fit in with other employees.
  
  
• Be sure any equipment needed arrives on time.
  Because many businesses are experiencing widespread supply chain disruptions, double-check with your suppliers to ensure that all necessary equipment arrives and is set up and tested prior to your new employee’s first day.
  
  
• Create milestones.
  Many new employees are unsure of their performance during the initial months of a new job. To help both the employee understand how they are doing and to give your business an idea of what tasks you want your new employee to be responsible for, consider developing a list of milestones to ensure the new employee is being properly utilized.