Employee onboarding is a crucial part of a company. It is the first time an employee truly gets to integrate themselves into the company. A lot of employees leave due to poor onboarding processes. A first impression goes a long way to building a good work culture and a solid team of loyal employees. It is the company’s responsibility to help employees get started seamlessly and make them feel at home. If an interview is the employee’s test of excellence, onboarding is when employees test a company. So, it is no surprise that companies will face most challenges in perfecting the onboarding process. Here are 6 challenges that many businesses face during onboarding.
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1. Bombarding Employees With Paperwork And Information
On the first day, every employee is a bit nervous. Putting in tons of paperwork and bombarding them with information will make them even more anxious and scared. It is like going to school on the first day and getting a bag full of homework. It will have a negative impact. Their image of the company will get tainted. This is why many companies now use online onboarding platforms, so they don’t overflow employees with data and reduce paperwork. Not only that but onboarding employees software help employees get on with contracts and agreements at their pace from the comfort of their home. This helps with the company image and makes the process as little complex as possible.
2. Lack Of Engagement
Onboarding is more than just formalities and paperwork. It is also about connecting with your colleagues and integrating the employee into the team. Employees must feel comfortable in the group and around their teammates for the company’s sake. If fundamental engagement and rapport do not happen, it ends up causing misunderstandings that might end up in the employee leaving after a month or two, which is a waste of time on both ends.
3. Lack Of Clarity
Lack of clarity is a huge no-no when it comes to successful onboarding. It can lead to the employee losing interest and leaving the job sooner or later. Sometimes, managers and HR give bulk information on the company and the product but must remember to explain the job role and what it will entail clearly. This needs to be clarified, and sometimes the employee can feel overwhelmed. If someone has been assigned to the sales division, they do not need to know the developing process in detail. Keep the information to the point of not drowning the employee in it.
4. Unrealistic Expectations
Not setting unrealistic expectations during or right after the onboarding is essential. If you set unrealistic expectations, the employee might take on more than they can chew and end up feeling frustrated or burnt out. In this way, they will also make more mistakes and lose motivation. It is, therefore, necessary to limit the work the employee will take, give proper training and guidance, and keep an eye out for any need they might be having difficulty expressing. These things are beneficial in the long run to set the company and the employee up for success.
5. Making Assumptions
Sometimes, companies make the mistake of thinking passive replies are affirmative and refrain from further enquiring if they need help. It is entirely okay to be new to something. What matters is the willingness to learn. If you make assumptions, chances are your employee will suffer at the hands of it. It will lead to a lack of motivation and a chip on the shoulder that would be hard to remove. So, to foster a healthy work environment, always be open to help and guide the new ones.
6. Prolonged Onboarding Process
This is a fast-paced world we are living in. In some organizations, onboarding still takes almost a month, and if you look at it closely, it is mostly paperwork that wastes precious, valuable time. It can be easily avoided if the process is automated. A prolonged onboarding makes the process tedious and tiring, and they need more focus and enthusiasm. This ends up hurting the company in the long run. So, be aware to avoid such things.
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