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 of the onboarding process will naturally differ from one organisation 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, disorganised 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.