Why is onboarding important?
Better onboarding also may help to reduce employee turnover and thus save companies money. Though COVID-19 has disrupted labor patterns in 2020, here’s a telling statistic: In 2019, a record 4.48 million workers quit their jobs, CNBC reported, citing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employee turnover is expensive, costing companies a total of $617 million in 2018.
Have a clear onboarding plan:
Before the new hire starts, create an onboarding plan that outlines their first week or two, including tasks, goals, and introductions to key team members.
Communicate expectations:
Let the new hire know what's expected of them in their new role, including performance standards, deadlines, and any company policies or procedures they should be aware of. Sometimes when giving information to a new employee, leaders will share the “short version” of how to do a job. Share the training plan with the new employee. Give them the right tools necessary to do the job well.
Provide a welcome packet:
Prepare a welcome packet that includes information about the company's history, mission, values, and culture. This will help the new hire get a better understanding of the company they are working for.
Assign a mentor:
Assigning a mentor to the new hire to help guide them through the onboarding process and answer any questions they may have. Mentors know the standards of behavior for the organization better than the new hire, so it’s important to model the work ethic, communication techniques and other best practices that new employees will need to thrive.
Schedule regular check-ins:
Set up regular check-ins with the new hire to provide feedback, answer questions, and ensure they are meeting their goals. Touch base with the new employee in the break room or wherever small talk happens. Get a feel for his or her level of job happiness. Get to know the new team member
Offer training and development opportunities:
Provide opportunities for the new hire to learn new skills and develop professionally, such as workshops or online courses. Whether it’s sharing tools and resources, how certain clients like to be handled or communicated with or tidbits of information on other employees’ favorites, any information shared that will help the new employee build relationships will be very helpful.