Highlights
- Onboarding sets the tone for your new hire’s experience with your company.
- A successful onboarding program can increase productivity, improve employee retention, boost employee engagement, and help you build a strong company culture.
- At LL Roberts, we provide flexible HR services to support every step of the employee journey, from handling new hire paperwork and onboarding, to managing employee benefits. Contact us to learn how we can help your business.
First impressions matter – especially for a new employee’s first day and the following months. A well-designed onboarding program sets new hires up for success, boosting engagement and reducing turnover in the long run. To keep you organized, we’ve created a new hire onboarding checklist that guides you through the essential steps.
Let’s jump right in!
Why Onboarding Matters
Stellar onboarding sets the tone for an employee’s experience with your company, shaping their perception and engagement. Studies have shown that a strong onboarding program can lead to a multitude of benefits, including:
- Increased productivity: A structured onboarding program helps new hires reach full productivity much faster.
- Improved employee retention: When employees feel valued and supported from the start, they are more willing to stay with the company for the long run.
- Higher employee engagement: A positive onboarding experience creates a sense of belonging and commitment, leading to more engaged employees.
- Stronger company culture: Onboarding is an opportunity to introduce new hires to your company’s values, mission, and work style, strengthening your overall culture.
However, a recent Gallup report shows that only 12% of employees strongly agree their organization does a great job of onboarding new employees.
A lack of proper onboarding can have serious consequences for your business. New hires who feel lost, uninformed, or unsupported are far more likely to leave the company within the first six months. This high turnover rate is costly, wasting valuable time and resources invested in recruitment and training.
New Hire Onboarding Checklist
Here are the main things to include in your new hire onboarding checklist:
Pre-boarding
According to a Human Capital Institute report, 83% of high-performing companies begin their onboarding process before an employee’s first day on the job. This stage is known as pre-boarding and consists of:
- Sending a welcome email with essential information and next steps.
- Collecting completed new hire paperwork electronically. This includes:
- Federal and Mandatory Forms (Form I-9, Form W-4)
- State Tax Withholding Forms
- Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
- Non-Compete Agreement (NCA)
- Benefits Enrollment Forms
- Employment contract
- Job description
- Scheduling pre-boarding calls or online sessions to answer questions.
- Preparing the workspace and setting up equipment.
First Day and Week
This stage is all about setting a positive first impression for your new hires and providing the foundation for their success in the role.
Here are the key steps to create a smooth onboarding experience:
- Organizing a warm welcome from the team and leadership.
- Scheduling introductions with key colleagues from different departments.
- Facilitating an orientation session on company culture, values, and mission.
- Sharing information and resources on company policies, benefits packages, and procedures. This involves:
- Information about traditional benefits, voluntary benefits, and insurance plans
- Safety policies
- Technology policies and support process
- Setting up email, phone, and other essential tools.
- Set up accounts and create logins
- Scheduling one-on-one meetings with the manager to discuss expectations.
First Month and Beyond
Employee onboarding goes beyond the first day and week: it’s an ongoing process of sustained development and integration. This period consists of equipping new hires with the specific skills and knowledge they need to excel in their role.
The goal? Empowering new employees to become valuable and contributing members of the team. Here’s how:
- Developing a personalized training plan based on the specific role.
- Assigning a mentor or buddy for ongoing guidance and support.
- Scheduling regular check-ins with the manager to monitor progress.
- Setting clear performance goals and expectations.
- Facilitating opportunities for team building and social interaction.
Set Up New Hires for Success with a Winning Onboarding Program
If you want to retain your best talent, implementing a strong onboarding program should be at the top of your list. However, we know that crafting a compelling onboarding plan requires dedicated resources and expertise.
At LL Roberts, we provide flexible HR solutions to help companies navigate time-consuming administrative tasks and focus on what they do best. Our human resources services help you manage new hire paperwork and onboarding, making the process more efficient and setting your new hires up for success from day one.
Let’s build a winning onboarding program together. Contact us today to get started!
