COVID-19 has seen the rise of many employees working remotely. This may make workers feel alienated or demotivated. Be sure to onboard them with the best process possible to maintain a good company culture remotely.
Table of Contents
Preparing to Onboard
1. Paperwork
The last thing you would want to be left incomplete is the crucial paperwork needed for employment. Offer letters should be sent well in advance outlining all your rules and expectations for the company. Fortunately, digital contracts offer a fast and convenient way for you to expedite the legal process. Lawpath offers easy to fill employment agreements alongside a free e-signature tool to cover your bases.
2. Sending Hardware
Remote employees will often require various pieces of equipment including laptops, phones and keyboards. If this is the case, hardware needs to be ordered and delivered early. This not only streamlines the procedure, but it makes the employee feel like their employment is a bit more ‘real’ when they have a new computer sitting in front of them.
3. Company Swag
Delivering company swag to an employee can be a great way to make them feel at home! This can include merchandise such as a company bag, mug or cap. This can be accompanied by a welcome note or video from the CEO of the company to make them feel included. It’s the little things which truly make an employee feel ‘onboard.’ Notably, branded merchandise also needs to be worded well in advance and purchased in bulk.
Introductions
4. Employee Handbook
Before the first day make sure to pass your employee an employee handbook. This handbook should outline all the policies and procedures of your company as well as any notes and expectations. This includes things such as an IT or social media policy. Additionally, it’s a useful way to help employees become familiar with your company culture. Lawpath offers an easily customisable Employee Handbook Bundle where you can select each applicable policy you would want to include.
5. Introduction Meeting
Setup an introductory zoom call or something similar to break the ice! This should be a meeting between the employee and their immediate supervisor, or even their team! This helps familiarise people within the company but is also an opportunity for supervisors to outline their expectations. Video calls help bridge the in-person gap that people feel while working remotely. In addition, this serves as a useful opportunity for the employee to ask any relevant questions they have about their first day of work.
6. Company Tools
Make sure your employee is up to date with all the tools they need to work remotely. This includes setting up a company email as well as giving them log-in details to applications such as Slack or Zoom. Send those log-in details through a secure company email and run a checklist through with them to make sure they can operate and are familiar with each of them.
Settling In
7. Regular Meetings
Zoom calls aren’t just limited to an introductory meeting! Even where video calls are technically unnecessary it’s important to have regular checkups with your employee to touch base, check how they’re going and solve any issues they might be overcoming. Sometimes a real-time conversation can just be useful in making them feel included. Encourage regular meetings between teams as well as a form of team-bonding.
8. Training
Online training can be a great part of remote onboarding. This helps the employee feel like they are learning even while sitting at home. This can include training exercises conducted as a team or online software usage training. Importantly, use interactive sessions and videos to make the process smooth and enjoyable.
9. Social Events
Social events are a must for the onboard process. There is no substitute for in-person interaction – organise a coffee meet-up or a night out for drinks if possible. If not, online social interactions can still be useful. Maybe run a games session with something like UNO or Among Us. Having an employee feel like they’re having fun goes a long way to retaining them.
Summary
Onboarding an employee remotely can be logistically difficult, let alone the demands of socially integrating them online. Always make sure to make your employee feel included. Your online workplace should replicate the in-person one as much as possible. If you need any assistance with the early logistical demands such as contract work or drafting an employee handbook, be sure to contact our employment lawyers.
