Onboarding is a trending term in the world of HR, but not everyone knows what it is or how to do it.
In basic terms, onboarding is the process of getting new hires acclimated to their new roles. It includes setting clear guidelines for performance and company culture, and sharing the knowledge necessary for success within an organization.
Onboarding takes training and orientation to the next level. Unlike traditional employee orientation, onboarding is a systematic process that extends well beyond the first day of employment. The goal of the process is to cultivate a long-term relationship between the employer and the employee while fostering a feeling of belonging and of making the right career choice.
Why is onboarding important? A study published in the Academy of Management Journal, found that the first 90 days of employment is a pivotal time period for employees to build rapport with a company, its management and their co-workers. Furthermore, when employees go through structured onboarding, they are 58 percent more likely to remain with the organization after three years. When you share your company’s goals and values with your employees while simultaneously showing them how to do their jobs, everyone benefits.
To help our clients with the onboarding process, we recently released an interactive toolkit that includes the basics to building a strong onboarding program. Click the link to open the Interactive Onboarding Toolkit.
Contact us today for support in redesigning your company’s new hire onboarding program. We can help build a customized program that fits your culture and goals.