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More businesses are choosing to operate remotely due to the benefits that come with the remote model. For one, they will be able to save on property rental/acquisition prices, and two, they will be able to hire from anywhere around the world. Businesses have had to change the way they onboard new employees in this model, as they are no longer face-to-face. Whether you are setting up a new fully-remote business or your pre-established business is looking to transition to this model, this article will cover how to effectively onboard new remote workers. Let’s get started.
How You Can Effectively Onboard Remote Workers?
Provide Detailed Orientation Information
First things first, you will need to provide detailed orientation information to your new employees. This may include you emailing them links to video meetings, new account information, and times that they need to show up initially. These will be the basics that you need.
Of course, you will also need to have more relevant information from your business to provide to new employees. You may want to provide an information pack that informs new employees a bit about your business and their role. Consider adding personal touches to enhance the onboarding process, making the whole process run smoother.
Provide Access To Company Resources
During the onboarding process, you will need to ensure you are providing access to company resources. This means providing relevant software, documents and assets that they need to be able to work efficiently. There will be solutions you can make use of to help ensure new employees can use internal software. You can use TSplus Remote Access applications to allow new staff to access internal business apps on central corporate servers from home, for example.
You will find that your new staff will find it easier to do the work that they are being brought in to do if they are given the tools they need to be successful. You should look at the entire inner workings of your business to find out what they would need. This will be especially true if new workers don’t work under you directly. Consider asking pre-established employees throughout your business what they find useful, and what they need to work each day effectively. They may be able to provide additional insight that you hadn’t considered.
Utilise Video Software
With remote working, you will need to utilise video software to try and recapture that face-to-face feeling you get in a physical workplace. The good news is that you won’t be short on options. In fact, there are plenty of different video software applications out there that businesses use, from Zoom to Skype. There are advantages to both, and it comes down to personal preferences for many businesses.
Consider what you need for your business, and you will find it easier to come to a conclusion for what’s best for onboarding new employees. To begin with, they may need to have their own Zoom or Skype accounts for onboarding. If you decide they need a business account for these video software applications, then you should sort this out for them.
Inform Them Of The Work Schedule
In order for your new workers to settle into their new roles, you will need to inform your new employees about the work schedule. As this will be a remote role, it is likely that the hours may be flexible, and the new workers may not be clear on what the work schedule is. Remote working may still follow a conventional 9-5 schedule, but that may not be the case for your business. Many remote companies offer flexible schedules that fit in a certain amount of hours in the week. As long as they work the allotted hours, they can work the days as they see fit.
Ensure you give them as much clear information as possible regarding whatever timetable you work with. Even if this is covered in the employee handbook, you should still tell them face-to-face (albeit virtually) so they know for sure. Once they are aware of the working timetable, they can focus on the work and crack on. You should clarify in the job description and during the interview if the role is fully remote or if it works on a hybrid model. Hybrid working is a type of flexible working that sees an employee split their work time between home and their workplace.
Establish Clear Communication Channels
As you likely know, communication is key for any business. However, communication will be all the more important for companies that work remotely. This will be relevant for the onboarding process. Make sure that you have a clear and efficient way for remote workers to communicate with you, such as a project management platform, video conferencing, or instant messaging.
There are a few different communication apps that your business and your employees can make use of. During the onboarding process, and hopefully, before this, you should set up their accounts so that they are ready to communicate effectively with no issues. Apps that they may need a business account include Outlook, Slack, Teams, or any other communication apps that your business may need. Setting up these accounts ahead of time will make the onboarding process smoother and help them get started.