Onboarding is like the ultimate “first day of school” for adults! It’s the process of getting new employees acclimated to their new surroundings. And just like how you probably had a school orientation, you’ll also have an orientation at the company to help you find your way around and get to know your new colleagues. A well-structured onboarding program can increase new hire retention rate by 82% according to Glassdoor.
Onboarding Definition
Onboarding is the process of integrating new employees into an organization and familiarizing them with company culture, policies, and procedures. It typically includes orientation, training, and other activities designed to help new hires feel comfortable and productive in their new roles. Onboarding is an essential step in ensuring that new hires have the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to perform their job effectively.
Onboarding FAQs
To help you understand more about onboarding, here are frequently asked questions (FAQs) to provide you with some additional information about this important process.
Why is Onboarding Important?
Onboarding is important because it sets the foundation for a new employee’s success within the organization. More so, it is important for several reasons:
- Helps new hires feel comfortable and productive: By providing new hires with the necessary information and resources to perform their job effectively, onboarding can help to ensure that they can hit the ground running and start contributing to the organization as soon as possible.
- Fosters a positive relationship between the employee and the company: By introducing new hires to the company culture, values, and policies, onboarding can help to ensure that they understand the company’s expectations and feel like they are a good fit for the organization.
- Increase employee retention: A well-structured onboarding program can increase the likelihood that new hires will stay with the company long-term hence retention.
- Warrants compliance with legal and regulatory requirements: Onboarding can help to ensure that new hires understand and comply with any legal or regulatory requirements related to their job.
- Helps track the company and employee progress: By tracking the progress of new hires through the onboarding process, organizations can identify areas for improvement and adjust their onboarding program as needed.
Why is an Onboarding Checklist Needed?
An onboarding checklist is needed to ensure that all necessary steps and tasks are completed in a timely and organized manner. It helps to ensure that new hires have the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to perform their job effectively, and it helps to foster a positive relationship between the employee and the company. An onboarding checklist also helps to ensure compliance with any legal or regulatory requirements, and it can be used as a tool for evaluating and improving the onboarding process.
What is the Purpose of Onboarding Tools and Software?
The purpose of onboarding tools and software is to streamline and automate the onboarding process, making it more efficient and effective for both the new hire and the organization. Onboarding tools can include a variety of different types of software, such as HR management systems, learning management systems, and digital signature platforms. These tools can be used to manage paperwork, compliance requirements, and training, as well as to track the progress of new hires through the onboarding process. Additionally, some onboarding tools and software can also provide analytics and reporting capabilities to help organizations measure the success of their onboarding programs and identify areas for improvement.
How Long Does Onboarding Typically Take?
Onboarding can take anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on the complexity of the job and the organization. A typical onboarding program can take anywhere from one to six months, but it can vary depending on company size, industry, and specific needs.
Who is Responsible For Onboarding New Employees?
The responsibility for onboarding new employees typically falls to the human resources department or a designated onboarding coordinator. Supervisors and managers also play a key role in the process by providing training, mentoring, and support to new hires.