Top tips for successful employee onboarding

Welcoming new employees into your business is an exciting prospect, but if you want to ensure that those newbies are in it for the long haul, you’ll need to nail the onboarding process. Although they may seem all starry-eyed upon receiving a job offer, how can you be sure that that same energy will be replicated on their first day of work, or in months to come? Employee engagement is directly linked to the onboarding process, and without preparing a plan that guarantees a smooth transition, you may risk having to start afresh. 

Create an onboarding plan

First things first, you should create an onboarding plan that clearly outlines your new employee’s development process. You could structure this as a checklist to avoid any confusion. For example, consider what their ‘to do list’ will look like day by day, alongside highlighting what their responsibilities will be for their first week. This way, they’ll know exactly what they need to do to progress through the business, which is likely to boost their motivation and willingness to learn. Of course, this plan will need to be adapted accordingly to make the process relevant to different employees; it shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. 

Get them prepared for their first day

After ensuring that all of the relevant paperwork has been completed, continue communicating with your new starter to get them prepared for their first day. You may decide to send out a fun welcome pack - complete with stationary, a branded water bottle, t-shirt or keyring - to make your new employee feel valued. Give them a call a week before their start date too, providing them with the space to discuss any prior concerns, with the aim to settle their nerves.

Office tour 

Who doesn’t love a good old office tour? Show your new starter where they’ll be sitting, where other employees spend their lunch, how to get to the toilet and - most importantly - where they can get their brew from. You wouldn’t sell a house without showing someone around first, so apply this same thinking to your employee onboarding plan. 

Discuss values and culture

Of course, this will be a topic of conversation for the interview process, but is your new starter completely aware of your company’s values and culture? Whether this is discussed through a simple conversation, brought up in a presentation or taught through an interactive exercise, make sure that they know how your business operates. 

Assign a mentor

A mentor, or buddy, should be assigned to your new employee; being a person who will work alongside them, providing support and guidance throughout the onboarding process. Starting a new job can be an anxiety inducing process, but knowing that there is always someone to rely on would be a big relief to many. 

Organise regular 1:1 check-ins

Your new employee’s mentor or manager should organise regular 1:1 check-ins, providing a safe, confidential space for them to voice any worries. This could be done either in a private breakout space, or - if you want to make them feel extra special - you could take your new starter out for lunch. They should be encouraged to share their feedback on how they’re finding the onboarding process, and asked whether they have all the support they need. In knowing this, you’ll put a stop to any festering negative thoughts, eradicating the problem before it has a chance to evolve. You’ll also be able to modify your onboarding process if needed, which will benefit any future new employees. 

Introduce them to the team

Friends for life are often made at work, so make sure that you’re enabling your new starter to get mixed into the group - no one likes to feel left out. Whether that’s through a team lunch, drinks, or by organising introductory meetings with different teams, this is the perfect chance for your business to show off its winning working culture. Looking for more ideas on fun ways to welcome new employees to the team? Check out our previous post for plenty of (exciting) solutions. 

Provide all necessary tools and resources

It may sound obvious, but does your new employee have everything they need to get started? A successful onboarding process requires preparation in advance, so get their brand new office desk set-up, complete with any additional accessories, before their first day. You should also ensure that any technology they’ll be using is working properly, providing relevant log-ins and issuing training if they’re required to use new software (more on this below). 

Training

Training modules are essential for development, so make sure that you’ve covered all areas to efficiently prepare your new employee. Relevant training programmes will vary depending on sector and the staff member’s role within the business; for example, this could be surrounding software use, how to operate machinery safely in the workplace, or how to communicate to customers. Providing refresher training is just as important, so make sure that this is available to new starters and long-term employees alike. In instances where your business undergoes either structural or internal changes, make sure that this is communicated to members of staff - testing them on new procedures if necessary. 

Get your workplace prepared for new starters and explore our range of office furniture, catering to a variety of aesthetic preferences. Your office’s layout and design can also impact employee retention, so if you’re looking for ways to inject some excitement into your working space, contact our team of fit out professionals today.