How to Develop an Onboarding Strategy
Employee Onboarding implies there is a defined strategy to accommodate and assimilate new hires, and often extends for up to a year.
That is very different from employee orientation - which refers to a short period of time - typically a day, or up to two weeks, at which time only general information is provided to all new hires.
The employee onboarding process is much more...
Research shows that employees decide within 10 days if they intend to stay with an organization or begin looking for a different job.
How an employee views his or her immediate supervisor and the values of the company are decisive factors in whether they will stay or leave within the first 6 to 18 months of employment.
In fact, how successful your employee onboarding process is during the first 12 months of employment can raise the retention rate by as much as 25 percent.
The employee onboarding process should have a long-term focus, beginning with the acceptance of an offer and continuing throughout the next twelve months of employment. The more you invest in onboarding new hires, the more you will see dividends in the form of productivity, engagement and loyalty.
During the first 30 - 60 days, this process should make evident that the new associate is appreciated in the company’s culture and is integral and valued part of the team. This will have a long term impact within your organization. Some companies will have new employee luncheons or events where a new employee gets a chance to interact with management and executives, allowing the new hires to feel important and involved.
The 3-month, 6-month mark, are great points to give and to receive employee feedback for an onboarding strategy, and the completion of the process is an important milestone, and a perfect time to provide recognition.
Getting the new employee's early feedback is important to get an indication of how well the new hire is acclimating to the company’s culture and if they feel satisfied with the challenges of their position, contribution and the support made available to them.
Having a detailed onboarding strategy is much more than just training and orientation. This onboarding strategy is the best way to welcome your new talent, help them understand their role, familiarize them with your culture, and help them feel confident in their new position.
Recognition: Many organizations will provide a recognition award to the new employee to celebrate the completion of the onboarding phase. Sometimes these are referred to as Early Service Recognition, and and considered part of the company's Service Awards Program. See details here.
