Onboarding Remote Employees

Onboarding is a critical moment in the employee lifecycle, but with the dramatic increase in remote employees, many organizations are struggling to modernize their processes. To ensure a new remote employee has a great experience, start before their first day. Make sure IT knows to get them all the equipment they’ll need to be successful and set them up with access to all the required systems and tools for their position. Also, communicate company practices for virtual meetings. This is an important cultural touchstone that often goes overlooked, and you’ll want to make sure the new employee fits in on day one. You don’t want them to be the only ones wearing a tie when everyone else is wearing hoodies and t-shirts. It can also help to assign the new hire a buddy. This is an informal connection where the new employee can ask questions and find resources. Create and share the first day’s agenda, and give them information on what to expect. This will involve having them meet with IT and providing them with an overview of the company and how their role fits in to the larger picture. During the first week, they’ll be introduced to their team and work will start ramping up, which can be daunting for new hires—build in chances for quick successes to give them a boost. This will build their skills, confidence, and knowledge of the organizational culture to set the tone for their future success.