Among business processes, employee onboarding is at the same time
unique, and near universal. Nearly every business in every industry
incorporates some form of onboarding procedure. However, the specifics
on the onboarding process will naturally differ from one organization to
the other. What remains consistent is the importance of having an
effective onboarding process capable of bringing new hires up to speed
quickly—not only in terms of productivity, but also in regards to
company culture and values.
Excluding the hiring and interviewing processes, onboarding is
essentially the first contact that a new hire has with your company.
More than that, it is the very first interaction they have as full
employees.
This first impression is essential; if the experience doesn’t live up
to their expectations, or if the onboarding process is confusing,
disorganized, or lacking in a formal schedule or process, it may set a
negative tone for their entire duration of employment. Conversely, an
effective onboarding process helps your new employee settle into their
job, understand and embrace company culture, forge beneficial
relationships, and clarify their objectives and expectations.
Finally, a streamlined onboarding process can help reduce the HR
burden of integrating new employees, freeing up this essential
department to focus more of their time on other tasks.