Onboarding Is Hard. Systems Can Help.

Welcoming a new team member is an exciting time for any organization, but it's not without its challenges. From navigating HR requirements to ensuring the new hire is equipped with all the right tools and organization-specific context to hit the ground running, the onboarding process can feel daunting for both the employer and employee.

First, providing a welcoming new hire experience sets the tone for what it will be like to work at the company. Without a structured approach, important details can be left out and key stakeholders may not have adequate time set aside to support the new team member, leaving them feeling lost or overlooked in their first few days.

Secondly, navigating HR requirements can feel like a maze of paperwork and procedures. From filling out forms required in the first few days to understanding company policies, the administrative burden of onboarding can overwhelm both new hires and business owners if not managed efficiently.

Beyond all that, ensuring that your new team member is adequately trained to begin adding value in their new role is critical for their success and the overall productivity of the team. Without a systematic approach to training, valuable time and resources will be wasted.

Research indicates that 4% of new hires leave a job after a disastrous first day and that 22% of turnover occurs within the first 45 days, costing the company at least 3X the former employee’s salary*. In my own experience, I’ve seen that inadequate onboarding leads to an extended ramp-up period, mistakes in the new hire’s work, and more instances of repeated training. After watching new hires struggle, I set aside time to research and design a strategic onboarding experience that provides new employees with time to complete required administrative tasks like IRS form I-9 and mandatory HR training, absorb critical organizational context, and complete training on the tasks they’ll immediately start performing. Training on tasks they won’t do until later are outlined on a timeline and saved for when needed so as not to overwhelm the new hire with information too early.

By implementing similarly strategic onboarding processes, small business owners can provide a seamless and welcoming experience for new hires, ensure compliance with HR requirements, and streamline training efforts to accelerate the integration of new team members. With systems in place, onboarding becomes an efficient tool to set employees up for success and foster a culture of growth and development within the organization.

* Bersin by Deloitte’s industry study: Onboarding Software Solutions 2014: On-Ramp for Employee Success