Onboarding new hires into an organization is always a challenge.  You want them to learn as much as they can as quickly as they can but introducing a new person into an established team is a gradual process.  They need to not only learn the ins and outs of their new job but the norms and culture of the company.  When COVID prompted many organizations to transition to remote work, training new employees virtually added even more wrinkles to this already complex process.

Whether your employees are working fully remote, in a hybrid setting, or starting to trickle back to in-person work, there’s no doubt that you’ll likely be onboarding new employees virtually at some point.  As the pandemic prompts many companies to rethink their reliance on in-office activities, it is likely that learning and development activities will more frequently move to online settings.

Here are a few tips to help your new employees get acclimated as smoothly as possible during this constantly changing time:

1. Get started right away

Too often, an employee’s first days on the job involve lots of paperwork, reading training manuals, and learning the ropes themselves.  Instead, HR and managers should be empowering new employees to dive right in, including them in team meetings and strategy sessions.  That signals to new employees that the dynamic is shifting to welcome a new member and shows the new employee that they’re already a valued team member, which may prove highly motivating.  Even if you’re working entirely remotely, ensure that any group discussions, video chats, and other communications held online are inclusive of the new employee.  

2. Leverage digital tools

Many new employees learn best when they’re shown what to do—not just told.  In person, that can mean having the new member shadow a colleague or practice a task by themselves, but it does get more challenging with remote teams.  If you’re bringing new employees up to speed virtually, make sure you’re taking full advantage of your digital tools.  For instance, use screensharing and other capabilities to help new employees see projects and tasks for themselves, despite the distance.

3. Don’t overwhelm

While employers should ensure new hires have responsibility from the start, piling on too much too quickly can backfire.  Without the proper training and information, new employees with a lot on their plate can fall behind and that may quickly erode confidence, create problems with co-workers, and eventually lead to turnover.  Start off small with manageable tasks and deadlines, and only start gradually increasing the workload when you see that the person is comfortable.

Ready to add new members to your team? Elite Personnel is here to help!