Onboarding is a detailed process by which new hires are integrated into a company. Onboarding is not just about completing new-hire paperwork and training; it must also include learning about your organization’s operational structure, culture, mission, values, and vision for the future. Most valuable of all, a robust onboarding program will also include the opportunity for a new hire to be mentored by veteran employees.
“No-Cost” Onboarding Tips
As appropriate, here are four key takeaways that employers can easily implement for their new hires:
- Separate the tedious task of completing new hire paperwork from the challenge of a new hire’s first day on the job.
- Set up a “Welcome Tour” of the company. If possible, include a friendly coffee break with some co-workers in a conference lunchroom.
- Arrange a “Welcome to The Team” meeting or lunch with the owner or executive team.
- Assign a work buddy or mentor to help guide the new employee through the first three months of the new job.
Why it Matters
Labor shortages are the biggest challenge businesses will face this year, so engaging and retaining employees from day one is important! Hiring a new employee is also an expensive and time-consuming process.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), it typically costs $4,425 to hire a new employee — not to mention the 36 days the average team spends trying to fill a position. Yet nearly 1 in 5 employees (16%) of employees quit in their first week — and 17% leave after the first month! A robust employee onboarding process can help you reduce turnover while helping new hires to become more productive quickly.
Implementing an onboarding plan can improve employee retention by 82%
Research by Brandon Hall Group found that organizations with a strong onboarding program improve new hire retention by 82% and increase productivity by the new employee by over 70% within the first three months.
The Ideal Onboarding plan is an extended integration.
A week-long onboarding program is a common practice at many companies, but a week is often not enough time for new hires to acclimate to their company, culture, and role. The Gallup Group’s employment studies find that the best employee onboarding programs extend throughout the employee’s first 90 days—to ensure new hires are fully supported as they ramp up to full productivity and feel comfortable in their new positions.
According to Gallup, data suggests that new hires have a 25% productivity rate in their first month on the job after completing new employee training. That number then increases to 50% in their second month of work and 75% in their third month on the job. However, the reality is that only a few companies have the luxury of training a new hire for three months!
One last stat!
70% of new hires who had exceptional onboarding experiences say they have “the best possible job” and are satisfied with their employers! Proof that a strong onboarding program can be an antidote to reducing the 90-day turnover syndrome that many employers have experienced!
Outsource Your Onboarding Process to Cardinal Services!
Ease your hiring woes with Cardinal’s affordable onboarding services. We can perform worker screening and DRUG TESTING; set up automatic deposits of paychecks into bank or pay cards; provide employee handbooks; and complete federally mandated Form I-9 and eVerify processes.