A remote onboarding buddy, usually an existing employee who is not the new hire’s line manager, can help keep them up to speed with the next steps. They can also answer questions and make the transition less stressful for the new employee. Onboarding can be remote onboarding best practices a long process involving different departments, and when you do it online, you may miss some important steps. The HR Department, for instance, may be so busy with contract signing that some other crucial tasks like background checks are pushed to the side.
Be sure all existing employee documentation is digitized and hosted on a company intranet for easy access. Many companies use an intranet or internal wiki to maintain digital documentation of projects, successes, failures, and culture outside of day-to-day operations (at Owl Labs, we use Notion). Best practices ensure that onboarding materials are accessible to all employees, fostering inclusivity and diversity. Develop a comprehensive onboarding plan that outlines timelines and milestones. Introduce them to immediate colleagues through virtual meetings, fostering a sense of belonging right from the start.
Collect remote employee feedback
Welcoming a new employee virtually is a lot different than doing it physically; while it involves the same set of steps, they are done differently, or more – virtually. Adding a new member to your team is a cause for celebration,, not only because it reflects that the company is growing, but also signals an opportunity for better distribution of work for your existing team. When a new hire is made, make sure to inform everyone in the company that a new hire is starting – at Thinkific, we make an announcement over Slack. But there is one important hurdle you have to overcome before you can achieve that promotion which you think you deserved.
Also, regular check-ins promote a welcoming remote work environment where employees feel comfortable and provide honest feedback on their onboarding experience. It’s an absolute must that managers schedule regular one-on-one meetings with all of their employees. This meeting is especially important for remote workers, as it can boost employee productivity, foster positive working relationships, and help team members solve issues and problems quickly. The onboarding process sets the tone for your employees’ success and experience at your company, so you want to get this right.
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This mentor can answer questions, provide guidance, and facilitate social integration, helping the newcomer feel connected. There are remote companies out there with massive projects and fifty to-dos on their new hire’s list before they’re even allowed to begin working. What is necessary is creating some sort of workflow so they know how to get through onboarding information. Assigning an individual whom the new employee can go to with questions about the culture can be especially effective. The buddy might debrief after an important group discussion, flagging to the new employee on actions that aren’t in line with the culture or how his or her style may be perceived by others.
- Additionally, guidance on how to use specific software applications or devices relevant to their tasks is essential for efficiency.
- You could, for example, plan video mentoring sessions where more experienced team members or managers show new remote employees the ropes and help them to become well-versed in their jobs.
- It also gives the new hire an opportunity to ask questions without consulting management.
- To do this, they should be provided with access to company policies and assets, such as company websites.
- Assure them that they are part of your community no matter where they are.
- It’s either they are using their own equipment or would have to assemble the equipment you sent them.
- That’s because there would be fewer distractions (75%) and interruptions from colleagues (74%), plus less stress from commuting (71%) and minimal office politics (65%).
Make sure to include clarity on performance standards, deliverables, and communication protocols. A virtual office in Kumospace lets teams thrive together by doing their best work no matter where they are geographically. Regardless of their roles, each new hire should know what products or services your business sells.
