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Onboarding During COVID-19

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In recent weeks, news headlines have painted a fairly grim scene of the U.S. employment landscape; unemployment remains a significant issue, and while the economy has added back many jobs, progress hasn’t been as robust as many had hoped. And, with the virus still surging, it’s hard to predict short-term or long-term fallout.
And yet, we know that there are still companies recruiting, hiring, and welcoming new team members into the fold. It is a most unusual time to be onboarding new employees, to say the least. Many in the HR world are struggling to effectively welcome and train employees, even in virtual work environments.
We’ve got just a few suggestions for ensuring a smooth onboarding process during the coronavirus pandemic.

Onboarding in a Pandemic: Our Tips

  • Be adaptable

    Onboarding processes can be complicated and multi-faceted. You’ll need employees to sign some paperwork, to be briefed on rules and policies, to receive task-specific training, perhaps even to be paired with a mentor.
    Those things are all well and good, but the pandemic means your timeline may be a little bit looser, and some of these steps a little harder to accomplish. So, what we recommend above all else is flexibility. Spend some time thinking about the non-negotiable aspects of your onboarding process, and how you can address them as expediently as possible. Also think about the things that add very little value to the employee experience; some of these items you may wish to jettison altogether, just in the interest of a nimble and workable process.
    In other words: During these unprecedented times, don’t be afraid to rethink some of your tried-and-true onboarding practices.

  • Embrace technology.

    By now, most companies are well aware of the technologies available to them to enable remote work; conferencing and communication tools like Zoom and Skype, and file-sharing tools such as Dropbox.
    These same technologies can be invaluable to your onboarding process. In fact, it may be smart to devote your employee’s first day to getting their technology setup in place. Be sure you have an IT person who can walk them through any needed software downloads and configurations.
    Certainly, technology can help you collect the paperwork you need without asking your new hire to come into the office; have them scan and email their forms, or use DocuSign as needed. You might also get an HR representative to join them in a Zoom call, clarifying any questions they have about the new hire paperwork.
    Finally, consider some of the learning management systems (LMS) available to provide virtual training for your new hires. This will require your HR team to create and upload some company-specific training content, but in the long run, this can be a great investment in a flexible and automated onboarding process.

  • Don’t forget the social component.
    Finally, it’s important that new hires be given an opportunity to meet people and feel like they’re part of the team. Again, video conferencing software can make this possible, even during quarantine. Consider using video conferencing to set up mentor meetings or small group hangouts. A few low-key, low-stress socialization opportunities can go a long way toward bolstering team morale.

Questions About Effective Onboarding?

The onboarding process can pose challenges even in the best of times; in the midst of a pandemic, those challenges are compounded. If you have any questions, we welcome you to reach out to WhiteWater Consulting directly.
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Onboarding can be challenging even in the best of times. During a pandemic, those challenges are compounded. Here are a few solutions.