4 Ways to Onboard a New Employee Remotely ~ By Drew

The benefits of a successful onboarding program are plentiful and well demonstrated. Organizations that do onboarding well, benefit from higher employee engagement, increased productivity, higher retention rates and better company culture. The importance is indisputable, but how do you go about onboarding employees in an ever-growing remote workplace?

Here are a few things to keep in mind when bringing on your next telecommuting superstar.

1. Lay the Groundwork – There is a lot of work that needs to be in place before the start date of any employee. Things like a remote work policy, digitized paperwork, updating and sharing the org chart and ordering equipment for their new home office will make for a smoother transition if done well in advance of the employee coming onboard.

2. Warm Welcome – Under more traditional circumstances, one would take the new employee around the office and introduce them to all team members, followed by a one on one with their direct supervisor. With remote onboarding it isn’t much different. Set up a virtual coffee break with all of the individuals that the new employee would be most likely to be interacting with on a day-to-day basis. This gives the new hire an opportunity to get to know their fellow coworkers in a more relaxed frame of mind. Also ensure that there is a meeting set up between the new hire and their direct supervisor where the conversation can be built around role expectations, goals and company culture.

3. Warm Welcome Part Two, Three, Four…. – Keep your new team member engaged by scheduling frequent video calls and check in with the new employee to see how they are doing. Consider designating someone within their department who can act as a “buddy” or point of contact for any basic questions the new hire might have about the organization. Someone who is on the team and has recently been through onboarding within the past 8-12 months is ideal. They know firsthand how to navigate the inevitable intricacies of your workplace and would be a highly valuable resource.

4. Get Creative and Inclusive – Look for ways to integrate the new member into the existing team. The arrival of a new teammate is a terrific opportunity for a team building exercise or two and getting everyone involved. Virtual games show competitions, movie events or even virtual puzzle rooms are some fun teambuilding activities that you can enjoy remotely and get everyone involved and away from “work talk.”

Studies have shown that organizations that do not have any onboarding program or onboard poorly will lose a quarter of their new employees within one year. Replacing employees is costly and time consuming. Take the time to welcome your new employees and set them up for success. That a few weeks of time investment may be buying you years of loyalty.