In the present-day economy, the prevalence of remote work is a lasting trend. It is important to acknowledge that when you recruit remote employees, it is crucial to efficiently and swiftly familiarize them with your procedures, systems, and team. To ensure a successful collaboration, it is essential to understand the essentials of remote onboarding. Let’s explore what you need to know in order to establish a solid foundation for mutual success.
In this article, we will delve into the concept of remote onboarding, outlining the necessary steps to incorporate into your process. Additionally, we will explore the best practices for your organization to enhance overall satisfaction among new employees right from the beginning. By the end of this read, you will be equipped to formulate a comprehensive plan for effectively onboarding remote workers, regardless of their geographical location.
What is remote onboarding?
Onboarding remote employees entails the procedure of integrating new workers into the company, providing them with the necessary technology, tools, and resources to acquaint themselves with the organization and their colleagues. In essence, the foundational principles remain consistent with onboarding employees who work on-site. However, there are specific aspects of onboarding remote employees that demand additional focus, such as effectively conveying the company culture virtually and cultivating genuine connections. We will explore best practices for addressing these aspects shortly.
What steps should be in my remote onboarding process?
Similar to conventional work environments where employees are physically present on-site, it is essential to establish a systematic approach for remote onboarding. It is advisable to divide these steps into various stages of the onboarding process to ensure that you provide remote workers with the necessary resources at the right time. In this article, we have compiled a list of activities to be conducted during five specific time periods, enabling you to effectively cater to the needs of your remote workers throughout their onboarding journey.
Preboarding
- Disseminate essential notifications, documents, and information related to benefits
- Offer a digital edition of your employee handbook
- Share videos showcasing your company, its culture, and mission
- Arrange for the delivery of laptops, phones, and other necessary tools in advance to ensure they are prepared and functional upon the start date
- Conduct an HR orientation session to address any required new hire paperwork that needs to be completed
First day
- Make yourself accessible to address any inquiries or concerns
- Arrange meetings for introductions with relevant individuals within their department and throughout the organization
- Offer the necessary training and resources to ensure their success as they embark on their new position
- Assign projects, including potential group tasks, to help them familiarize themselves with team members and foster collaboration
- Establish unambiguous expectations to provide clarity on responsibilities and goals.
First Month
- Offer remote training options that accommodate diverse learning styles
- Encourage connections among new hires through cohorts (if multiple employees are onboarding simultaneously), Slack channels, or other online platforms
- Support new employees in identifying and accomplishing initial achievements to boost their confidence
- Establish a foundation for continuous growth and development.
First 90 day
- Administer employee surveys to gauge their current state and emotions
- Conduct regular check-ins to offer performance feedback and ensure they have the necessary resources for success
- Supply a roadmap for the initial six months, delineating their objectives and illustrating how they align with the company’s vision and objectives.
What best practices should be followed when onboarding remote employees?
When formulating a plan for remote employee onboarding, it is important to consider essential strategies that can contribute to a successful and efficient process.
- Utilize checklists as a valuable tool: Onboarding remote employees can present challenges in terms of tracking all the necessary tasks, so employing checklists and automated reminders can assist in keeping workers organized and on schedule. Leveraging onboarding software can further streamline workflows, allowing for customization based on the requirements of different departments or locations.
- Build connections: While in-person peer interactions cannot be replicated entirely, you can strive to recreate a similar experience virtually by prioritizing frequent social interactions during the onboarding process. Ensure that a diverse range of individuals, including leaders, managers, and coworkers, are involved to provide new hires with exposure to your company culture, create a welcoming environment, and establish the groundwork for fostering relationships.
- Rely on technology: The successful completion of all onboarding activities for new remote hires hinges on technology, so it is essential to harness the power of robust platforms to streamline processes for everyone involved. In addition to video conferencing, these platforms can encompass various options such as learning content, collaboration tools, forums, and more, enhancing efficiency and convenience for all participants.
- Seek feedback: Whether through surveys or informal methods, regularly solicit input from employees regarding their experience with remote onboarding. This valuable feedback can provide insights into the effectiveness of your current processes and identify areas where enhancements can be made. By actively listening to employee perspectives, you can better understand what is working well and uncover opportunities for improvement.
Bottom Line
SW HR Consulting has been helping companies to build their teams and values for over 10 years. Contact us to find out more about our unique hr outsourcing services and see how our expertise can benefit you.
