5 Great Reasons to Create Online Orientations
Online Onboarding!
Even the best talent needs time to reach peak performance in a new job. However, a new hire onboarding program can help employees adapt faster while making them feel motivated and welcome. Now that working from home is a normal part of business, many companies are recruiting remotely. Onboarding orientations are equally important for remote employees. According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 69% of employees are likely to continue with a company after three years if the onboarding experience was good. The same study found that effective onboarding makes new employees 50% more productive.
- Onboarding orientations can be considered an investment since new talent can become productive faster.
- Another SHRM study found that the average cost per hire is around $5,300 and the process takes 42 days.
Online new hire orientations may pose a challenge when HR departments are not used to them, but the process can be simplified with new technologies. With an effective onboarding program, employees can assume their responsibilities faster. They also get to know their team members better, while getting familiarized with company policies.
Let’s look at 5 great ways to create the best online new hire orientations.
1) Making an Employee Feel Welcome
The onboarding process must welcome new employees while communicating the company culture and values. Employees who feel welcome will also be motivated, making the onboarding process simpler. The importance of this should not be overlooked:
- According to a LinkedIn survey with 3,000 professionals, 70% would leave a company with a negative culture, even if the firm is considered a leader in its business sector.
- The same survey found that 71% of professionals would even be willing to earn less if they have the opportunity to work for a company that shares their values.
Finding opportunities for social interaction and socialization with both the new hire’s team members and anyone they are working closely with can help them feel like they are welcome. At the end of the day, your employee should feel that they are part of the team and are ready to take on the challenges of a new position.
2) Motivating an Employee
When companies want to optimize their costs, they often focus on real estate and utility services. However, the global real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle found that payroll expenses are 10 times higher than rent as a rule of thumb, and 100 times higher than utility expenses. When employees are motivated, the value provided in exchange for their salary is higher. An effective onboarding program gets new employees motivated about their job, and how it contributes to an organization. Online new hire orientations should clearly communicate the company vision and values, giving a sense of direction and the motivation to excel at work.
3) Sharing Important Information with Employees
Making employees feel motivated is an important aspect of new hire onboarding. However, the company must also provide all the necessary information to start working. This includes general documents like the employment contract and company policy and specific information for the job position. Technology is fundamental in the modern business world, and employees must be provided with the necessary tools to be productive. This means they need usernames and passwords, to access the software and files needed for their job. Adequate preparation is very importan; software installations that take a long time should be completed in advance, or they can disrupt onboarding orientations.
4) Reducing the Time Onboarding
Orientation and onboarding are related concepts, but they have different meanings. Orientation refers to the initial process, which introduces new employees to the company. On the other hand, onboarding is the complete integration process to become a productive team member. In other words, orientation is the first step of new hire onboarding.
Companies benefit from a shorter onboarding time, and online new hire orientations provide an opportunity to speed up the process. Even the best talent needs time when adapting to a new job, but companies can simplify this process.
5) Improving Employee Retention
As mentioned above, filling a job position represents an investment of time and funds for companies. However, new hire onboarding can help a company reduce turnover, while boosting productivity. New employees are more likely to stay when their job has clear responsibilities and they feel welcome. Companies should also provide networking opportunities for networking, helping new collaborators establish good working relationships.
Conclusion
Online new hire orientations are beneficial for both employees and companies. During this process, employees can be provided with the information and tools needed for their job, while making them feel welcome as new team members. An effective onboarding process also benefits the company, since turnover is reduced, and new employees can contribute with their talent in a shorter time. Onboarding orientations involve a balance between human and technical aspects. They must make new employees feel welcome, while introducing them to the organizational culture. However, new hire onboarding also involves paperwork, job-specific information, and setting up all the necessary tools and resources. Creating great online orientations are important to bring new employees on with confidence and set your company up for success.
