What is New Employee Onboarding?

Employee Onboarding Sets the Groundwork for a Lasting Relationship

Employee onboarding is the process of transitioning new employees into your organization. It introduces them to your culture, policies, procedures, and team. Effective onboarding can provide lasting benefits.

Turnover is expensive, and first impressions count. The hiring and recruitment process is a time consuming one, but it is essential that an employer includes all of the crucial steps involved in getting a new employee acclimated to the organization. Once the candidate has accepted the offer and has negotiated a starting date and rate of pay, the employer must move expediently in order to utilize best practices for onboarding new employees. Start your employees out on the right foot by making them feel welcome and productive from Day 1.

Employee Onboarding Best Practices

Onboarding Tips – Before the First Day

Make a plan and send it to the new employee, including:

• Tips for parking or public transportation
• Dress code
• Start time and scheduling
• Documents/items to bring

Plus, make sure the new employee is set up on their computer or has access to what they need at home if working remotely, so they are ready to go on their first day.

A welcome message is a great way to make new employees feel excited about the job that lies ahead. After a candidate has accepted an offer, encourage your co-workers to send the new employee an email welcoming them to the team and offering to answer any questions they may have.

Onboarding Tips – On the First Day

The I-9 Form must be completed within three business days of the starting date of employment, as it is mandatory that the employer obtains the candidate’s proof of identity as well as eligibility to work in the U.S.  

Form W-4, Direct Deposit Form, Emergency Contact Form, benefits paperwork, and other relevant new hire documents should be completed on or before the first day of work. Utilizing a new hire checklist as well as a new hire orientation template will help ensure that the employee is being onboarded in a smooth, structured manner and will help verify that the employee is in receipt of tools, equipment, and other necessary company property.

If the employee will be in the workplace and not working remotely, provide them with a tour of their workspace and the office. Point out the restrooms, break area, kitchen, and any other areas they should know about.

Employee Onboarding – Training

The onboarding process should create an opportunity for the employee to build a relationship with his or her manager. This is the time for the manager and employee to learn each other’s communication styles. and for the manager to clarify expectations and performance standards.

Once the new hire and the manager are acquainted, it’s time for the new hire to get to know the team. Consider pairing the new hire with a top performer for training.

Onboarding Tips – Staying on Track

Once the candidate begins his or her role, those first few weeks on the job are the most crucial time frame in the employee’s employment with the company.

• Check in often
• Establish a “graduation” period
• Schedule a follow-up meeting with the employee to fill in additional details, revisit or address questions, a provide a forum for any concerns
• Be patient – a successful onboarding process lasts 30-60 days

As the new employee becomes acquainted with the organization and his or her respective department and role, the organization will enjoy the positive outcome of this formative time frame that impacts the employee’s acclimation as well as his or her longevity with the organization. Studies have found that the more devoted an organization is in crafting a thorough onboarding program, the greater likelihood that the employee will remain employed with the company.

Though the new hire orientation processes can be time-consuming, investing energy into a thorough, streamlined onboarding procedure will provide a return on investment when the results are happy, long-term company employees.

GTM’s Employee Onboarding Solution

GTM makes it easy to onboard new employees through isolved, our human capital management platform. New employees enter information directly into the database, avoiding multiple data entry and eliminating paperwork. Plus it’s easy to implement, collect, track, and store all forms and documents. Watch this helpful video to learn more, then request a free quote to see how it can help your business.