Alright, let me tell you about what I think is the best HR bet I made today. It was all about overhauling our onboarding process. Seriously, it was a mess before.
First, I noticed new hires were just…lost. They’d show up, get a pile of paperwork, and then kinda just wander around looking for someone to tell them what to do. Not exactly a stellar first impression, right?
So, I started by actually talking to some of our newer employees. I asked them what sucked about the onboarding process. The answers were pretty consistent: too much paperwork, not enough guidance, and a general feeling of being overwhelmed.
Next, I dug into the paperwork situation. We had forms that were like, twenty pages long. Ridiculous! I sat down with HR and legal and we stripped that stuff down to the bare essentials. We also moved a lot of it online, using a digital onboarding platform. Huge time saver.
Then came the “guidance” part. I created a detailed onboarding checklist for each department. It included everything from setting up their computer to meeting key team members to understanding company culture. I made sure each new hire had a designated “buddy” – someone to answer their questions and show them the ropes.
Here’s the breakdown of what I did:
- Identified the problem (crappy onboarding).
- Gathered feedback from new hires.
- Streamlined paperwork and moved it online.
- Created detailed onboarding checklists.
- Assigned onboarding buddies.
To really make a difference, I introduced a welcome package. Nothing crazy, just a branded water bottle, a notebook, and a company t-shirt. Small things, but they make people feel valued. I also scheduled a series of “meet and greets” with different departments. This helped new hires understand how the company worked as a whole.
And here’s the kicker: I implemented a feedback loop. After a month, I sent out a survey to all new hires asking them about their onboarding experience. This allowed me to continually improve the process. We also conducted exit interviews more diligently than before to see if there were any issues that started during onboarding.
The results? Night and day! New hires now feel welcomed, informed, and prepared. We’ve seen a noticeable increase in employee engagement and a decrease in turnover. The best part? It wasn’t rocket science. It was just about listening to our employees and making a few simple changes.
This might sound like a lot, but trust me, it’s worth it. Investing in a solid onboarding process is one of the best things you can do for your company. It sets the tone for the entire employee experience and it shows that you care about your people. So, that’s my best HR bet today. What are yours?
