How to Onboard New Employees
A successful onboarding process can set new employees up for success and improve employee retention.
Read on to learn how to create an effective onboarding process for your new hires.
What Is the Onboarding Process?
Onboarding is the process of integrating new employees into your organization. It can often set the tone for a successful employee experience, so its importance cannot be overstated. A typical onboarding process includes essential components for instilling your company values in new hires and helping them understand your mission. Additionally, onboarding provides employees with the knowledge and skills they need to hit the ground running and succeed in their roles.
General elements of employee onboarding generally include:
- Compliance and safety training
- An overview of company policies and benefits
- Team-building exercises
- Job-specific training
- An introduction to company technology
How Long Does the Onboarding Process Take?
HR professionals and hiring managers generally say that three months is the minimum amount of time it should take to onboard new employees. Ninety days gives new hires enough time to gain an understanding of their job duties, learn about their team and organizational culture, and get a feel for the working environment. However, research suggests that onboarding should continually happen within the first year of an employee’s new role. Typically, 12 months gives employees enough time to get comfortable in their role and embrace the culture.
Tips for Onboarding New Employees
Start Pre-Boarding
Sending a pre-boarding email is an easy way to ensure your employees are prepared to hit the ground running.
Make sure to include the following information in your pre-boarding email:
- New hire paperwork
- Start date, time, and location
- A copy of your employee handbook and dress code policy
- Their first day agenda
- Employee portal username and password
- A list of documents to bring, such as a driver’s license and direct deposit details
- Directions and parking information
Taking the time to provide pre-boarding information ensures new employees feel comfortable on their first day and can save a lot of time during the onboarding process.
Prepare Their Workstation
Next, prepare their work or desk space by setting up necessary equipment, such as a computer and phone, and work with your IT department to ensure their computer and email work properly. You should also gather a welcome packet that includes a hard copy of your handbook and their employee ID. Many companies throw in company-branded swag, such as a water bottle or backpack, as a welcome gift to add a little something extra to the new hire process.
Give a Tour
To ensure your new hire is given a warm welcome on their first day, assign someone to meet them in-person, such as the hiring manager or someone from the HR team. Whoever greets the new employee should then give them a tour of the building or workspace to make it easier for them to navigate their new environment in the future. Showing new employees around will give them an idea of how their job works and how their role fits into the larger organization. It’s also a good opportunity to provide new hires with some fun facts and information about your company, such as its history and key successes.
Make Introductions
Throughout the tour, introduce new hires to colleagues and their fellow team members. Introductions can be nerve-wracking for some, so getting the ball rolling can help ease their anxieties. You should also have new employees meet with someone in HR on their first day to review company policies regarding vacation time and working hours.
Arrange a Lunch With Their Team
Taking your new employee out to lunch is an excellent way to make them feel valued and appreciated. Arranging a team lunch on their first day also gives new hires a chance to get to know their colleagues outside the office and ask questions about their role.
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Help Them Get Acquainted With Their Workspace
Next, help set up their workstation by asking them to log in to their computer with their company account information. Be sure to provide them with all the resources and support they need, such as access to manuals, tutorials, and training materials, during this time. It’s also a good idea to assign new hires to a designated mentor or supervisor who can answer any questions or concerns they may have if their manager isn’t available.
Meet With Their Manager
Next, it’s time for new hires to meet with their managers to review job descriptions and expectations. An initial meeting to discuss preliminary details regarding their new role helps make sure everyone is on the same page. It can also help the employee understand job expectations and how they fit into the team. Additionally, it gives the manager a chance to provide clarity on any questions or tasks that the employee may not be aware of.
Schedule a Follow-Up
The last step in the onboarding process is to schedule a one-on-one meeting at the end of the new employees’ first week. Meeting with new employees after they’ve experienced their first full week at your company gives them a chance to ask any questions they might have since their first day and allows you to offer any additional support or accommodations they might need to perform their job successfully.
Spend Less Time on Paperwork With Our HR Onboarding Software
Do you feel like there’s a better way to streamline the onboarding process and reduce your expenses? Look no further than OnboardEXP, AAIM’s employee onboarding platform. OnboardEXP revolutionizes the way you onboard new employees, saving you 50% to 75% of onboarding processing time with just four clicks. With OnboardEXP, you can simplify and automate your business processes. That way, you can spend less time on paperwork and more time on core onboarding tasks.
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