9 new hire onboarding tips

You found the perfect candidate for your open position, they accepted your offer, and their first day of work is on the calendar. Congrats!

Now it’s time to help them become a productive member of your team through new employee onboarding. This involves integrating the new employee with your team and culture and giving them the information and tools they need to succeed.

Does your company have a new employee onboarding strategy that builds rapport with new employees and keeps them excited about your company and the job? Here are nine new employee onboarding tips that will help you engage and retain promising new talent at your organization.

1. Train managers for onboarding:
Managers are key in seeing employees through their first few months on the job, so it’s crucial to ensure they’re trained to onboard new employees. Have onboarding checklists to help managers remember all the necessary steps to help new employees hit the ground running.

2. Create a welcome folder of important information:
Prepare a booklet or binder or digital document for remote workers of important information new employees need to know, such as:

• Relevant policies and procedures
• Organization chart
• Important contacts
• Pay schedule and holiday schedule
• Floor plan detailing where everyone sits
• Culture norms, such as casual Fridays, potlucks, etc.
• FAQs including how to call in sick, request vacation, access payroll system, etc.
• Save the dates for important events like holiday parties
• Map of local area detailing where to go for lunch, errands, etc.

3. Have workspace and supplies ready on day one:
Everything new employees need for their jobs should be ready on day one whether they’re remote or on site. For office jobs, new employee desks should be organized, clean, have a name placard, and be stocked with office supplies and business cards. Computers and technology equipment should be ready to go with access to systems ready for those working remotely.

4. Schedule a first-day itinerary:
Have a plan for how new employees will spend their first day and print it. Keep the pace of their day steady without overwhelming them. Keep in mind that social interaction is important. Treating them to lunch with colleagues is a nice way to build rapport.

5. Give them swag:
Include items with your company logo, such as a shirt, mug, water bottle, tote, and pens.

6. Alert team about new employee:
Send an email to all employees letting everyone know the new hire’s name so they can welcome them. Ensure the new employee’s team has an outline of the new employee’s role and responsibilities, so existing employees have expectations and know how they’ll interact with the new employee.

7. Assign a mentor:
Assign the new employee someone in the company to be their go-to person for questions, concerns, or professional guidance.

8. Provide guided benefits education and selection:
Call on trained benefits educators to teach new employees about the benefits you offer and support them through benefits selection. This will result in enhanced awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of benefits. 

Related: Here’s how employee benefits education impacts your bottom line

9. Schedule check-ins:
New employee onboarding doesn’t stop at the end of the first day. Rather, it’s an ongoing process that should last about a year. About a week or two after a new employee’s first day, take them out for coffee or lunch and give them the opportunity to ask any questions. Then schedule 30- and 90-day check-ins to gather feedback and see how things are going.

Want more? Check out our blog, Helping employees understand their health plans

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Optavise is a trusted partner, guiding employers and their employees through healthcare choices including voluntary benefits, benefits administration, and year-round advocacy services that reduce costs and increase benefits engagement.