September 2023

Employee Onboarding - Creating a Seamless Welcome for New Hires

When it comes to welcoming your new employees, first impressions really do count. A well-structured onboarding process can greatly impact the speed at which new hires become productive, engaged, and committed to your organisation.

Employee Onboarding: Creating a Seamless Welcome for Your New Hires

When it comes to welcoming your new employees, first impressions really do count. A well-structured onboarding process can greatly impact the speed at which new hires become productive, engaged, and committed to your organisation.

Did you know that 30% of employees are likely to leave in the first 90 days of joining and that 50% voluntarily leave within the first two years of employment? That initial three months therefore is a crucial time and given the effort you've put into finding the right employee, it’s imperative to get the onboarding process right for both sides from the get-go.

“The UK’s labour market is currently unusually tight, with more than one million job vacancies across the country” - UK Labour Markets Report

So, what makes a great onboarding experience? Onboarding goes way beyond simply showing new employees where the loos are and telling them what time lunch is. It's about providing them with the necessary tools, resources, and support to integrate smoothly into their roles and the way you get things done. Effective onboarding sets the stage for a positive employee experience, increases employee retention rates and enables better levels of engagement.

At RfM Transform, our HR team helps businesses improve their engagement levels by focusing on 8 Pillars of Engagement:

1. A business to be proud of
2. A clear plan for the future, led by credible leaders
3. A great manager
4. Supportive colleagues
5. Opportunity to get on (training and development)
6. Pay and benefits that feel fair for the work done
7. A business that gives something back (community, environment and social impact)
8. A Positive Work Culture

To make your onboarding process even more effective, consider adopting as many of these tips as you can:

1. Start Preboarding: Begin the onboarding process before the employee's first day by preparing essential information, completing paperwork, and getting ready for their arrival. You’d be surprised at how many people tell us that they started a new job and hadn’t been allocated a desk space or phone, or even had their contract of employment (which is a legal requirement from the first day of employment).
2. Personalise the Experience: Tailor the onboarding process to each individual, considering their background, skills, and goals.
3. Encourage Relationship Building: Create opportunities for new hires to connect with their colleagues, both professionally and socially. Remember that not everyone wants to socialise outside of work hours though – some have children or hobbies and other priorities once the working day has ended.
   
4. Provide Continuous Support: Offer ongoing support and development opportunities beyond the initial onboarding phase to ensure long-term success and growth. A probationary period with regular check-ins and reviews is a great way to do this.
   
5. Seek Feedback: Regularly seek feedback from new employees to identify areas for improvement and make adjustments to the onboarding process accordingly. It’s not a bad habit to survey all existing staff too regardless of how long they have been with the company.

Creating a supportive, onboarding experience sets the stage for long-term employee success. By nurturing employees from the start, businesses can lay a solid foundation for growth and prosperity

With the expertise of our HR team at RfM Transform, you can develop a tailored onboarding strategy that aligns with your company's goals, values, and culture, ultimately saving costs associated with turnover and maximising employee retention and productivity.

Remember, the onboarding process is not a one-time event but an ongoing commitment to setting employees up for success from day one. Investing in effective onboarding is an investment in your employees as well as the future growth of your business.

Small businesses can Transform the world!

If you'd like help in reviewing your business values and company culture to ensure your employees thrive and your organisation effortlessly attracts and retains the very best talent, then speak to Tony Backhouse or one of the HR team at RfM Transform.