Five Ways to Improve Your Onboarding Process in 2023
While many employers believe onboarding is synonymous with orientation, it actually begins before an employee starts their job and continues well into the first year.
Onboarding includes all processes that integrate new hires into a company. The steps should include:
- Pre-onboarding – During this phase, you’ll want to give the new hire a tour of your company space and introduce them to a mentor.
- Orientation – This introduces new employees to the company structure, policies, and administrative procedures, such as lunch hours, timecards, and parking.
- Foundation building – During foundation building, your employee will learn more about your company’s values. This helps foster a culture of belonging and long-term engagement.
Why is Onboarding Important?
Onboarding is crucial to improving retention, increasing productivity, and boosting engagement. It also helps company management create a supportive environment for new hires and reinforces a company’s commitment to professional growth. Unfortunately, there is much room for improvement. A Gallup study found that only 12 percent of employees said their company did a good job with onboarding, and only 29 percent felt prepared and supported so they could excel.
Read on to learn how to improve your company’s onboarding process in 2023.
#1 Start Before They Arrive on the Job
There’s nothing quite as frustrating for a new hire as showing up at their desk and having to sit and twiddle their thumbs because they don’t have what they need to start their job. Work with the technology department and administrative staff to ensure all tools – including a computer, desk space, and keyboard – are available when they arrive. That includes passwords and an email address.
Send them documents to fill out before they arrive to give them a head start on administrative tasks, such as tax and direct deposit forms.
#2 Showcase Company Culture
Employees care about more than compensation. In fact, a study found that for 56% of workers, a strong workplace culture is more important than salary. Your company’s culture is the shared values and standards that create the day-to-day experience. Highlighting them helps boost employee engagement and makes them feel welcome. Consider highlighting your company’s history, explaining why employees are loyal, and providing a “swag” bag to show organizational spirit and pride.
#3 Incorporate Diversity and Inclusion Training
Diversity makes companies more creative, agile, and diligent. Providing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training during onboarding sessions shows your company’s commitment to creating a psychologically safe and welcoming environment for employees of all backgrounds. Tell them how your company is furthering its DEI goals and showcase your commitment to DEI by describing company-wide DEI initiatives.
#4 Incorporate Creative Onboarding
There’s no reason you can’t incorporate some fun into the onboarding process. This can be especially important if your company is virtual. Onboarding videos can be yawn-inducing. Using animation, graphics, and live footage keeps new hires engaged. If your employees work onsite, consider organizing a scavenger hunt for the office tour, or add a game, such as a trivia contest, at the beginning or end of an orientation session.
#5 Schedule Regular Check-Ins
Scheduling regular check-ins with new hires demonstrates that you care about them, are committed to creating a positive experience, and value their input. You can also find out whether they are happy with their position and the company. During these check-ins, acknowledge their contributions and ask if they need additional support.
Most importantly, an effective onboarding process emphasizes your holistic commitment to your new employee’s well-being and encourages them to bring their whole self to the job. Epic Placements can assist you with the onboarding process, including suggested onboarding improvements. Contact us for more information.