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Why have an onboarding process?

over 2 years ago by Natalie Smith

​Once we’ve found the perfect candidate for your role, it’s over to you to deliver the perfect onboarding into your company! Every business has their own approach to how their new starters begin, citrus HR explain why onboarding is so important…

What is onboarding?

Onboarding involves integrating new hires into the company culture, introducing them to their new role and ensuring they feel welcome. An effective onboarding process can last up to 12 months and will equip employees with everything they need to thrive and succeed in their new position.

There are a number of methods that can be used during the onboarding process. These include:

•Printed materials

•One-on-one meetings

•Social lunches

•Computer-based programmes

•Videos

It’s a good idea to have a mix of formal and informal procedures in place to give the new employee a wide view of how the company runs and what the culture is like.

Why bother with employee onboarding?

With a successful onboarding programme, businesses can see employee retention rise by 25% and performance by 11%. Simply put, employee satisfaction = better business. Here are some advantages of a great onboarding process:

Saves on resources

When time is taken to properly integrate an employee into the company, it will help them to feel supported and valued and give them a sense of belonging. This will radically decrease the chances of them wanting to leave the company, which will save on the vast amounts of time and money that are exhausted by businesses during the recruitment process.

Boosts employee wellbeing

Knowing specifically what is expected of them and how they will be supported in return will help to reduce an employee’s stress levels, which is a fast-growing factor in sickness absence. Framing the onboarding process within a manageable flow, not overloading new hires with too much information and giving regular, detailed feedback will help employees to feel in control, not overwhelmed.

Contributes to the wider company

The sooner an employee feels comfortable within their new role and is able to complete tasks by themselves, the sooner they’ll be able to start creating visible results. Fully equipping them with the skills and training needed will allow them to make a real contribution to the organisation, helping to boost overall performance and output.

At MorePeople, all our new starters enter our Academy to learn the ropes in a dedicated team with structured training, before moving on to working on their own desk. The Academy has grown over recent years as it’s developed and evolved. All members of the team have regular 1-2-1’s and appraisals throughout the year, as development and improvement never stops!

citrus HR, a refreshingly simple and affordable HR software and service for UK small businesses