The onboarding process is foundational to the employee experience, laying the groundwork for productivity, engagement, and loyalty. It sets the tone and informs so much of the employee’s initial impressions of your business. It’s a harsh truth, but most companies aren’t onboarding new employees effectively. Gallup finds that a staggering 88% of employees feel their onboarding was less than great. This is a major problem because strong onboarding is directly linked to better employee retention, engagement, and productivity – all of which impact your bottom line. A less-than impressive onboarding experience begins the employee journey at a deficit, requiring extra effort to make up for a lackluster first impression.
The good news? Improving your onboarding process is a fast and effective way to boost these critical areas. Let’s dive into the tools you need to ensure new hires can integrate smoothly and become engaged, productive members of your team.
The Role of Onboarding in Employee Retention and Productivity
Your employee onboarding program can have an outsized effect on retention rates. Statistics show that employees who report having a great onboarding experience are 69% more likely to stay with the company for at least three years. This reduces turnover costs and increases organizational stability.
Furthermore, onboarding programs can also impact productivity. When employees aren’t sure what is expected of them or don’t have access to the tools and information they need, it increases the learning curve and hinders their ability to do their job effectively.
Lengthening the amount of time it takes new employees to learn crucial information can negatively affect the entire team, leading to decreased productivity across the board.
Pre-Onboarding Preparation
The work to create an effective onboarding experience starts before your new employee arrives. Set your employee up for success by assembling their workstation in advance. You can coordinate with IT to set up a laptop and ensure they have access to all of the applications they’ll need for the job.
Additionally, consider sending a welcome packet and introductory materials via email before the employee’s first day. This can increase their comfort level and decrease time to productivity.
Structured Onboarding Programs
According to Harvard Business Review, companies with a standardized onboarding process experience up to 50% greater new hire retention. Consider designing a multi-week onboarding schedule that helps your new employees know what is expected and avoids overwhelming them with a huge to-do list.
It’s a good idea to consider how you will balance necessary training with integration into the company culture. Make sure there is adequate time for new employees to meet the other members of their team. You might consider scheduling a team lunch as part of the onboarding program to build camaraderie.
Mentorship and a Buddy System
All new hires will likely experience confusion at some point. Having a go-to person for questions and support helps them get their issues resolved quickly and can relieve anxiety. Before new hires arrive on the scene, you may want to assign them a mentor or buddy who can help them navigate the workplace and their new responsibilities.
Comprehensive Training Initiatives
Though your new hires may come to you with skills from previous jobs, you can develop training modules that are tailored to their new role so they can acclimate to the expectations of your organization. Find ways to incorporate both technical and soft skills into this training to ensure that they are able to operate effectively within your company culture.
Clear Role Expectations and Goals
You can put new employees at ease when you tell them up front what is expected of them. Allow them time during the onboarding process to sit with a manager and set SMART goals. These types of goals are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-Bound
Additionally, managers should regularly check in with new hires throughout their multi-week onboarding program to assess their progress and provide timely feedback.
Fostering Company Culture
Though you may be focused on ensuring employees can do their job well, don’t forget to introduce them to your company values and mission. Have their manager and team set up a few team-building activities to foster solid relationships and build a foundation for open communication.
Feeling connected to the mission and values of the company is crucial to engagement, longevity, and positive sentiment.
Using Technology in Onboarding
Leverage onboarding technology like electronic document signature programs or learning management systems to streamline the process and save time. Incorporating technology can also help you create a virtual onboarding experience for remote employees and ensure they feel connected even when working outside of the office.
Measuring Onboarding Success
Tracking key metrics not only helps employees assess their own progress but also helps you understand whether your onboarding program is effective. Some metrics that can provide critical insight include:
- 90-day retention rates
- Time to productivity
- Training completion rates
In addition to tracking metrics, gather feedback from new hires — their insight can help you improve onboarding for future employees.
A Solid Onboarding Program Sets Your Workforce Up for Success
As a manager, you play a critical role in ensuring new hires feel connected and productive from the moment they walk through the door. Employing effective onboarding techniques is an integral part of setting employees — and your organization — up for success.
If you’re looking for advice on how to build an onboarding program that works, Focus HR can help. Request a consultation today and let our team of experts help you help your new hires thrive.
