Employee Onboarding: How to Get New Hires Ready in Days

Did you know that employees who undergo a formal onboarding process achieve full productivity 34% faster than those without structured onboarding? This means the sooner new employees hit the ground running, the faster they can help you achieve your business goals.

This guide will explain what employee onboarding is, discuss the shortfalls of traditional onboarding and how to overcome them with a more streamlined approach.

What is employee onboarding and why is it important?

Employee onboarding refers to a set of tasks and processes which help new team members integrate into their new roles and organisation. It typically encompasses completing paperwork and administrative tasks like setting up the employees on payroll and benefits and receiving the necessary equipment. It also includes an introduction to company culture, helping new employees understand their role in the bigger organisational picture.

A solid onboarding process prevents employees from flocking to your competitors. Research shows that companies that have channelled their efforts into creating a structured onboarding process improve retention rates by 82%. Moreover, employees come out of the onboarding process prepared, make fewer mistakes, and can perform with less supervision.

Learn about the top strategies for increasing workplace productivity

The problem with traditional onboarding

As the modern way of work is constantly changing, traditional onboarding methods often fail to meet the needs of employees and organisations. If you think an onboarding process is just a checklist for paperwork and basic training, you’re bound to experience high turnover rates. It might cost you twice as much to hire replacement employees and get productivity back on track.

Beyond the financial losses, these early departures will affect the team’s dynamics and overall morale. Existing employees might become frustrated with the cycle of new employees who take a quick exit, whereas new hires feel overwhelmed in their new roles. 

Discover tips on how to build a positive work culture with global teams

The solution: a streamlined, modern onboarding process

Here are a few steps that can help you create a streamlined onboarding process, which leads to better employee productivity, satisfaction, and retention rate.

Setting up for success with pre-boarding

A successful onboarding process begins with carefully planned preonboarding practices. This includes signing employment contracts and completing the necessary paperwork to officialise the employment. Sharing the agenda for their first day will ease their nerves and make them feel prepared. Once that’s settled, you can encourage the new hires to make introductions by scheduling virtual coffee chats at their own pace. 

Making a strong impression on the first day

First impressions are important, so make sure you put your best foot forward. Showcase warmth by introducing them in the general channel or send a thoughtful welcome package to make them feel valued from day one. Their IT setup should also be ready — provide login credentials for platforms and equip them with the necessary software. This helps eliminate any early frustrations and allows them to focus on integrating into their role.

How can you build a benefits package that attracts and retains employees?

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Building a foundation in the first week

During the first week, you should inform the new hires of clear role expectations and responsibilities. That said, expecting them to hit targets immediately is unrealistic unless you provide proper training sessions and resources. In that way, they’ll feel more prepared for their role. Assigning a mentor or buddy who can offer guidance and answer questions can also ease the transition. 

Fostering growth with ongoing support

Checking in and supporting employees shouldn’t come to a halt once the onboarding period ends. Scheduling weekly or monthly catch-up meetings gives space to discuss challenges and celebrate milestones. In addition to regular meetings, performance reviews offer constructive feedback on areas where employees need to refine their skills. Any skill gaps can be bridged through training programs, mentorship, and career development opportunities.

How Native Teams simplifies employee onboarding

Onboarding global teams while ensuring full compliance can be a complex challenge. With that roadblock in mind, we’ve created solutions to streamline onboarding by taking admin tasks off your plate. Everything is automated — from generating employment contracts and running a global payroll to ensuring compliance with local labour laws and regulations. Thanks to automation, you can onboard your new employees from multiple countries in just a few days!

On top of that, our professionals will guide you through the entire process, helping you and your global employees settle in quickly.

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To wrap up

A well-structured onboarding process helps new employees feel welcome, prepared, and supported from day one. By simplifying each step, from pre-boarding to ongoing support, you can ripe the benefits of higher retention rates, improved productivity and a positive work environment. The key is to always make onboarding adjustments that are aligned with your organisation's goals and employees’ needs.