Onboarding is the process of starting new employees at your business, where you and the worker fill out a slew of new employee forms. But onboarding shouldn’t end when the last of the paperwork is signed.
Onboarding should also help acclimate employees to their new job and work environment. To reduce turnover, you need to make sure employees adjust to their positions and are happy, and that means you need an effective onboarding program. Try the following tips to make your onboarding more successful:
1. Create a plan
Create a detailed plan of everything you need do in your onboarding process. It might look like an ordered list that you carefully follow, or a checklist where you tick off the completed items; you also might include forms to fill out, technology to set up, and training to complete.
Your plan will make sure your new employee gets all the information they need to do their job well. And, the plan ensures you have all the information necessary to legally hire new workers. A clear, laid out onboarding plan also creates a consistent process, so all employees receive the same information.
2. Set expectations
After you schedule the employee’s first day of work, you should send them information about that day. Tell them exactly what to expect, including when and where to arrive. If needed, provide any special instructions for entering the business, and let them know whom they should report to. Give the employee a list of items to bring, such as multiple IDs and completed forms; also give instructions about meals and job supplies.
Send an agenda for the first day. This gives the employee an idea of what will happen and how to prepare. Include items such as form completion, introductory meetings, and job training.
3. Compile forms
Before the employee shows up for their first day, create a folder where you can collect and and have ready all the forms they will need to fill out. For items that must be completed on a computer, such as new hire reporting for your state, create a list where you can check off the completion of those forms.
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4. Explain fit
When an employee first starts, it might be difficult for them to see how exactly they fit into your company. They might see themselves as a small, inexperienced blip compared to other employees who have been there a long time. They need to see how they belong in the business structure and the culture.
Give them a brief presentation about your business’s history and goals. As you go through these things, you should explain how they fit in. Where do they fit in the current business growth and trajectory? How will their job help achieve the business’s goals?
You might talk about their specific job responsibilities. Tell them how they will work with other employees and how their specific tasks fit within your business.
5. Follow up
After the employee gets settled, sit down with them. This might be later during their first week, the next week, or even after a month. You might meet with the new worker several times.
During this meeting, talk to the employee about how they are adjusting to the job. Ask their thoughts about the position, tasks, and culture, and whether they have any questions about their job or the business. Also, find out what you can do to improve the onboarding process for future employees.
Through follow up, you can answer any questions and clear up any confusion. This reduces the risk of losing an employee over a small issue or miscommunication.
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