HR onboarding involves integrating a new employee with your company’s culture, as well as providing them with the information and tools they need to succeed in their position. Onboarding is vitally important to the success of a company, but it is an ongoing process that requires much effort to be successful.
In this article, we’ll consider the benefits of having a robust onboarding protocol. We’ll also provide three tips for establishing a successful onboarding program that you can implement immediately.
While recruitment is essential, the process of onboarding new employees is one of the most critical factors in a company’s success. Here’s why. An effective onboarding process brings many benefits, including the following:
Employee retention is just as important as recruitment, and onboarding plays a large role in retention rates. In fact, Brandon Hall Group found that a great employee onboarding process can improve retention rates by as much as 82%.
A great onboarding process enhances your employee recruitment and widens your company’s network. This is accomplished through employee referrals, which are when your current employees recommend your company to other professionals.
Employee referrals are an excellent way to recruit new hires who will stay with the company over the long term. In fact, 45% of people employed through referrals stay with their companies for four years or more, and employers save an average of $7,500 per referred employee in sourcing and productivity costs.
Employees are more productive when they have a structured, long-term onboarding program that extends throughout their first 90 days.
An employee’s productivity increases by 75% by their third month of work. Effective onboarding further boosts their productivity by 11%, helping them reach their peak potential within their first year.
Clearly, onboarding is important for employee retention, referrals, and productivity. So how can you complete a successful onboarding process?
Onboarding is an involved process that often consists of many activities. So how can you set them up and carry them out successfully? Let’s look at three tips that will make your onboarding program stand out among the rest.
Gathering all of the paperwork a new hire will need before you start the onboarding process ensures that the employee can join the company quickly. It also gives a great first impression by showing them that your HR department is professional, technical, and organized.
Some onboarding documents include:
Pre-boarding — allowing new hires to complete their paperwork online after they’re hired but before their first day on the job — increases employees’ willingness to recommend your company to others by 83%. You can streamline the process through technology.
Human capital management (HCM) software like Empeon allows you to create and manage employee profiles, assign documents for e-signatures, let employees enroll themselves in and manage their benefits programs, and more — all automatically and in compliance with the law! HCM software can send the paperwork to employees before their first workday. You’ll even receive alerts when documents are opened or signed, or are in need of further action, so you don’t have to micromanage the process.
This allows you to focus on people instead of administrative tasks and paperwork. You’ll also be able to reduce the chance of human error and make a positive first impression on new employees.
Onboarding isn’t just about getting new employees in the door and working. You need to invest in their initial training through an orientation program.
Many companies have a short, one-week training program that doesn’t set their employees up for success. According to Gallup, “Only 29% of new hires say they feel fully prepared and supported to excel in their role after their onboarding experience.”
However, setting up an orientation program that lasts three months demonstrates your willingness to invest in employees’ development and success. It also ensures that they are confident and adequately equipped to fulfill their job duties.
Social interaction with the managerial staff is crucial during this time period, but adding technology streamlines the orientation process. A comprehensive human resources information system (HRIS) such as Empeon allows you to post new-hire videos and training courses to take some of the pressure off managers and top employees.
People are the most important part of any industry. So managers should focus on getting to know their employees.
You can have new hires complete questionnaires so you learn more about them. Include fun personal information like their favorite foods, restaurants, music, hobbies, and more. You can then share this information with your team.
Managers can also show interest in their employees by scheduling regular employee check-ins during orientation. Don’t call them for stiff, formal meetings in the office; take employees out for a one-on-one lunch at one of their favorite restaurants.
Doing this on the first day allows you to build a rapport and acclimate them to the new company culture. You can then schedule one-week, two-week, one-month, three-month, six-month, and one-year check-ins. This will allow you to monitor your employee’s performance. You will also receive feedback that can help you improve your company’s culture.
As you can see, onboarding is an important factor in a company’s success. It increases employee retention rates, widens your company’s network, and boosts employees’ productivity.
Improving your onboarding process may seem like a daunting task, but there are concrete, actionable steps you can take to do so. You can pre-board your new hires, set up a structured long-term orientation program, and schedule regular employee check-ins.
You can also integrate technology into your onboarding process to automate key tasks. Empeon provides comprehensive payroll and HR software that allows you to manage everything from recruitment to onboarding to retirement — all in one simple automated system! Contact us today to begin your journey to easier, streamlined company processes.
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