ONBOARDING EMPLOYEES

The process of onboarding a new employee is to assist them to integrate into your company and team as smoothly as possible. Onboarding allows you to give your new starter a great first impression of your business and to retain them in the long run.

It’s important to remember that onboarding is not just on the first day. Whilst day one is very important, it’s what happens in the months after that will ensure you have a happy and motivated employee. Here are some tips to consider:

  1. Before Day 1
  • Before your new starter commences, make sure they have a desk, stationary, and access to required systems and folders. It might even be nice to put a small plant on their desk to make them feel really special.
  • Keep their employee starter packs ready with information on the company, policies, procedures, and most importantly payroll forms and a copy of their employment contract.
  1. Day 1
  • Give your new starter a tour of the office, and introduce them to key members of the business and to their team before sitting them down to start work.
  • Go through their employee starter pack with them, and make sure their emails are set up and working correctly.
  • Complete a company induction or company overview with your new starter, and go through your expectations with them regarding their role and responsibilities.
  1. Week 1 and thereafter
  • Check in with your employee regularly to see how they have settled in, and if they have any concerns or questions.
  • Make sure they understand that you are available for questions they may have.
  • Give them positive feedback and recognise a job well done. Its important to keep your new employee motivated to reach those goals!
  1. Probation & Annual Review
  • Ensure you have their probation and yearly review scheduled in, and catch up with them regarding their performance. This is your opportunity to provide general feedback on how they are tracking in the business. It’s also a good time to discuss any issues or provide constructive feedback.

The time you invest in effective employee onboarding, will see you reap the rewards of an engaged employee, faster learning pace, greater productivity and staff retention. But most importantly, it will help you to build a motivated and engaged workforce from the start.

Putting together an onboarding plan may seem like a lot of work, however it is an important process in any business. If you have any questions or would like to find out how we can help with developing an onboarding plan in your business, contact one of our HR consultants today.