Employees are typically a company’s largest expense, and believe it or not, having an established onboarding process is one of the keys to ensuring long-term retention. It also provides an opportunity for you to educate your new hire on the company’s culture and set the bar for expected performance level. A popular best practice is to create a formalized new hire process, as having one in place leads to job satisfaction, loyalty among employees and improved productivity.

Process 101
Having an onboarding process in place reduces the amount of time you and your team spends preparing for new employees. It also brings consistency within the workplace so all new employees receive the same standard of training. When creating a process for your organization, start with a checklist. ¬¬Include which team members need to be present at specific meetings, what tools the employee needs (such as any training videos) and who is in charge of sending out the calendar invites. Capturing these little details in one document will help simplify things for everyone involved.

Set Employees Up For Success
Cut down on potentially wasted time in the office during a new employee’s first day and send out all the necessary paperwork in advance. This gives ample time for a new employee to locate their social security card, decide on insurance, etc. by the time they start work. Also, send out a training schedule so they are aware of who they will be meeting with, and to help reduce any confusion on their first day schedule.

Day One Ready
On your new employee’s first day, be ready for them to arrive. They will intuitively reflect your attitude, so remember to be upbeat and positive to show your excitement that they are joining your company. If you plan for them to work in the office, make sure to have their space ready with a desk and a computer along with a clean area. If your new employee works remote, make sure to send them the necessary computer, printer, etc. early so they can jump in on the first day. While this may seem like a small detail, its impact speaks volumes (and sends a strong message if a new employee’s space is not ready!). Lastly, give out some company swag. Your new employee is a part of your team now and you want them to feel proud to show it.

Kick Off With the Basics
Tour the office, introduce your new employee to staff members and show them how your copier works. While this may seem obvious, too often, new employees are brought in, sat at a desk and left on their own for most of their first day. Change that by scheduling out their first few days of introduction meetings with people they need to know. Also, make time to review the company’s history, jargon and mission so they fully understand the company’s culture.

Office Family
Teams that bond and enjoy each other’s time outside of the office tend to stick together. Many of us will spend one-third of our lives at the office, so you should try to enjoy the work-family as much as possible. If your company’s culture is one that promotes team collaboration, then include that in your onboarding process. Whether your company is small or large, lunch is always a great tool to get everyone out of the office and networking.

Consistency is Key
From the presentation of any training videos to shadowing of employee, how you begin and execute your onboarding process should be consistent. Many onboarding processes are comprised of several stages, and yours needs to be strategic and comprehensive. It will take time for your new employees to assimilate into your company, so patience is vital! Plan to check in at a 30, 60 and 90-day marks to see how they are adjusting and to evaluate if they’ve been given the right tools for long-term success. At the end of the process, make sure to survey your new employees for any suggestions or changes that you could make to future onboarding processes.

Turnover is an expensive business cost, so encouraging long-term retention is key to a successful company. Studies have shown that 60% of employees are more likely to remain within a company if the organization has a structured onboarding process. When you bring a new employee into your office, make sure to give them the attention that you would want on your first day. With an effective onboarding process, your new hires will be ready to contribute on day one, and in the long-term, your company will benefit from a productive, well-trained new team asset.