Employee onboarding has become more important than ever to attract and retain employees. With the rise of remote and hybrid work, companies must adapt and innovate to keep ahead. It’s becoming increasingly important for organisations to evaluate their current onboarding processes.
Before thinking about hiring new employees, it’s crucial to understand what the objectives are for the onboarding process – the key competencies and skills required to complete the job. Consider the company’s expectations around employee performance and integration with their team. By having clear goals, it will help guide the development or restructuring of the onboarding process.
It’s critical to understand that all employees are different, so not all onboarding processes will be the same. It can depend on job roles, departments or locations, which means the new hire’s needs can vary.
There are many ways organisations can develop their onboarding processes, including:
Organisations can emphasise good team dynamics that benefit the onboarding process. This will also benefit team efficiency in the long run.
A well-thought-out onboarding process contributes to higher employee engagement. When employees feel supported and informed from day one, they are more likely to be invested in their work and the company's success.
Personalised and efficient onboarding plans accelerate the time for new hires to become fully productive - benefitting the organisation and boosting the confidence and satisfaction of employees.
Employees who have a positive onboarding experience are more likely to stay with the organisation in the long run. This improved retention rate saves organisations the costs associated with turnover and recruitment.
Employee turnover can negatively impact retention – direct replacements can cost up to 50% of the annual position salary. That’s a considerable cost, given that 23% of new hires leave the role before reaching a year into the job. Providing an onboarding experience that makes new hires feel excited, welcome, and committed could reduce the risk of them leaving the role later on.
Valuable onboarding experiences are essential when bringing people into the organisation. After all, they will be the first experience new hires have with the business — providing them with engaging and insightful information will only ever be a positive. Planning and reflection are vital to make onboarding a success for everyone involved.
