22
Apr
Remote working

Due to Covid-19, most employees are now working from home and for some companies, the hiring process is still continuing. As a result, the companies who are still hiring have had to make some adjustments to onboard new employees remotely.

Studies have shown that effective on-boarding has the benefits of reducing staff turnover, increasing commitment to the business and improving job performance and productivity.

Therefore, we have put together some points to consider when on-boarding employees remotely.

Pre-Boarding

The on-boarding process is not something that just takes place on an employee’s first day. It begins before the employee starts (which is known as pre-boarding) and may take up to a couple of weeks to complete, depending on the role.

Pre-boarding is about making sure that the new employee is ready to hit the ground running on their first day. There are some extra points to consider when a new staff member is working remotely. 

For example, it is important to make sure that the employee has all the materials they need, all hardware is delivered to them on time (laptop, phone etc.) and all documentation is signed.

It is also a good idea to send the new employee a welcome pack including any branded merchandise (to help make them feel like they are part of the team) and any working from home tips.

On their first day

As the team cannot physically meet the new employee on their first day, a welcome email should be sent to all staff letting them know some information about the new employee, for example their name, job title and any other relevant information.  

Video calls should be organised with top management to formally welcome the new employee, just as they would in a face-to-face setting. A group video call in an informal setting also gives colleagues the opportunity to get to know the new member of staff.

The employee should be provided with an overview of the company and a detailed description of their role and how they fit into the company. Information should also be provided about members of staff, the culture of the company and finer details such as the common ways colleagues communicate with one another (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype etc.).

In the first few weeks

The first few weeks is all about the new employee familiarising themselves with their role and getting to know their colleagues. In this time, a clear set of tasks should be outlined and any training required should be organised.

Virtual events are a great way to interact with colleagues remotely, whether this is 5pm Friday drinks over a Zoom call, a virtual quiz or other interactive game through video call. 

It is very important to plan regular virtual meetings to make sure the new employee is settling in OK and you are giving them opportunities to ask questions.

Last but not least, you should ask for feedback from the new employee about how they have found the remote on-boarding process and make any improvements if necessary.

Successful remote on-boarding is crucial during the current crisis to save you valuable time and money by reducing turnover and improving productivity. 

If you are currently expanding your team and would like assistance in finding the best candidates, Reperio can help!

Our Recruitment Consultants specialise in different areas of the IT market, ranging from Data Analytics to Software Development.

Get in contact today. 

Written by Michelle Young