Fully remote companies Buffer and GitLab both use a “buddy system” for onboarding and building culture with new hires. If you are onboarding new employees remotely you need to have a clear, detailed plan to ensure that they have the same experience as if they were working in the office. Once a business has transitioned to being partly or fully remote, onboarding new employees via traditional methods doesn’t quite work the same.

I define the starting point of remote employee onboarding as the moment a candidate formally accepts the job offer; in the virtual workplace, that offer generally comes in the form of an offer letter sent via email. A smooth onboarding process has long been recognized as a key to engaging https://remotemode.net/ new employees, boosting productivity, and reducing employee attrition. Setting the tone for a welcoming environment should begin before an employee’s first day, during the pre-boarding phase send an onboarding email to your new hire to share relevant information and check-in with them.

Phase 3: Early Onboarding for Remote Employees

This information allows employees to establish new connections and easily communicate with the appropriate stakeholders for various projects, improving productivity and removing barriers. Here’s an example Day One Schedule from Percolate, a company previously founded by Noah Brier. At the beginning of an adventure, you’re greeted by someone who’s happy to have you.

Research shows that it’s more powerful to have a broad network than a deep network, especially as one becomes increasingly senior in an organization. Particularly when a new leader onboards, the organization should help him or her intentionally build a broad network, starting internally. Some companies set up a “shadow week” in which the new hire attends a wide variety of team and stakeholder group meetings, even those that may feel less directly relevant to that new hire’s core responsibilities. One way to ensure this happens is by educating your managers about how vital one-on-one meetings are with new hires and existing employees. These meetings can make a huge difference in your onboarding process and improve overall people operations.

What are some tips to plan an effective employee onboarding training?

Remote employees don’t have as many opportunities to step in and introduce themselves during the first day at the office. You need to have processes in place to make sure they meet plenty of people. Fine-tuning this process will save both you and your remote workers lots of frustration. A remote employee onboarding process should always be flexible and constantly evolving as your company grows. In order to set clear expectations and avoid any miscommunication, review your remote work policy during your remote onboarding best practices process and provide your new hire with a copy for easy reference. Your remote work policy may cover matters like the hours you expect employees to be available or remote meeting expectations.

• Experts recommended scheduling virtual lunches and coffee breaks and covering the cost for the new employee.
• Ask for anonymous feedback via Google Forms or another survey tool, and focus on impact rather than simply likes and dislikes.
• This takes off the pressure of performance and allows employees to adapt to a new work environment steadily.
• Onboarding plays a decisive role in the success of any new hire, and in your overall culture.
• While a positive onboarding experience is important for all employees, when onboarding remote employees, it’s even more critical.
• In practice, many organizations mix and match these approaches to arrive at something that suits their business and their employees.

Ideally, the onboarding liaison will proactively reach out to the new employee prior to the first day and establish themselves as the new individual’s go-to person. Especially in a remote setting, a specific buddy can help a new employee feel welcome. They can also introduce them to various processes, understandings, and other aspects of culture that are hard to communicate during traditional onboarding.