Remote and hybrid work is on the rise in Nigeria, but businesses are struggling to adapt their onboarding processes to this new reality. This can lead to a number of problems for organisations, including; lower productivity, higher turnover, and a less engaged workforce.
Follow us through this blog post as we discuss how you can create a remote employee onboarding process that will help your new hires get up to speed quickly and become productive members of your team.
The Importance of Effective Onboarding
A well-executed onboarding process can help businesses to:
1. Enhance Productivity:
Effective onboarding enhances productivity by helping employees to get up to speed quickly and become productive members of the team. Let’s compare two scenarios. In the first scenario, a new employee is given a stack of paperwork to fill out and a tour of the office, but they are not introduced to their team members or given any training on their new role. They are left to fend for themselves and figure things out on their own. It would take this employee a long time to get up to speed and become productive. They would likely make mistakes and feel frustrated, and they would also be less likely to be satisfied with their job.
Now imagine a new employee who starts their job with effective onboarding. They are introduced to their team members, given training on their new role, and provided with all the resources they need to be successful. They are also regularly checked in with and given feedback. This employee is much more likely to get up to speed quickly and become a productive member of the team. They are also more likely to be satisfied with their job.
2. Reduce costs:
Effective onboarding can help businesses in Nigeria to reduce costs in a number of ways. According to a 2019 study by GlassDoor, the average cost of hiring a new employee is $4,000. This includes the costs of recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding the new employee. Effective onboarding can help businesses to reduce these costs by helping new employees to get up to speed more quickly. By providing new employees with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to be successful, businesses can help them to start contributing to the team sooner rather than later.
Employee turnover is also a very costly problem for businesses in Nigeria. According to Enrich, it costs a company about 6 to 9 months of an employee’s salary to replace them. This includes the costs of recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding the new employee, as well as the costs of lost productivity. Effective onboarding can help businesses reduce employee turnover by helping new employees feel more connected to the company and more valued in their roles. By providing new employees with a warm welcome and a clear understanding of the company’s culture, values, and mission, businesses can help them feel more at home and more likely to stay with the company for the long term.
By providing new employees with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to be successful, businesses can save money on training costs, lost productivity, employee turnover, and other costs.
3. Improve Employee Engagement:
Employees who have a positive onboarding experience are more likely to be engaged and motivated. In an article by Philips Consulting, we found that highly engaged employees are 87% less likely to leave their organisations, and are 20% more productive than their disengaged counterparts.
One of the most important things that businesses can do to improve employee engagement is to provide new employees with a clear understanding of the company’s culture, values, and mission. This will help them to feel more connected to the company and more motivated to contribute to its success. Businesses should also set clear expectations and goals for new employees, and provide them with the training and resources they need to be successful.
By implementing these effective onboarding practices, businesses can help to improve employee engagement and reap the many benefits that come with it.
Components of an Effective Onboarding Process
An effective onboarding process should include the following components:
1. Pre-boarding:
The pre-boarding process begins before the employee’s first day on the job and is essential for setting the stage for a successful onboarding experience. During this time, the employee should be provided with information about the company, such as its history, values, mission, culture, and policies and procedures. They should also be given access to any necessary training materials or resources, such as the company’s website, intranet, or employee handbook. The pre-boarding process can also be used to collect information from the new employee, such as their contact information, emergency contact information, and any relevant work experience or skills. This information can be used to prepare for the new employee’s arrival and to ensure that they have a smooth transition into their new role.
2. New hire orientation:
On the employee’s first day, they should be given a tour of the office, introduced to their new colleagues, and provided with an overview of their job duties and responsibilities. They should also be given the opportunity to ask any questions they have. The new hire orientation is an important opportunity to make the new employee feel welcome and to provide them with the information they need to be successful in their new role. It is also a good time to introduce the new employee to the company’s culture and values.
3. Ongoing training and support:
New employees should be provided with ongoing training and support throughout their onboarding process. This may include training on company software and systems, as well as mentorship or coaching from a more experienced employee. Ongoing training and support is essential for helping new employees to get up to speed quickly and to become productive members of the team. It is also a good way to show new employees that the company is invested in their success and development.
4. Performance reviews:
Regular performance reviews, whether conducted quarterly or at other intervals, are crucial in facilitating new employees’ success within an organisation. These assessments provide a structured approach to assess progress and ensure that new hires are aligned with organisational goals. By incorporating regular performance reviews, employers can offer constructive feedback to new employees, guiding them in areas that may require further training or support. Additionally, these reviews offer a platform to acknowledge and celebrate the new employee’s achievements, fostering a positive work environment.
You can adopt various metrics to assess your employees during these reviews, such as; evaluation of task completions, communication skills, adaptability skills, teamwork abilities, and so on. You can also consider asking questions when conducting performance reviews. This will help to gauge the employee’s understanding of their role, assess alignment with organisational objectives, identify challenges they’ve faced, and gather suggestions for improvement
There are several effective tools made available these days to streamline performance review processs, which enhance efficiency and transparency. For example, using roPay , you can establish performance metrics tailored to each employee’s specific job role. This allows for a comprehensive assessment and scoring based on these metrics. By employing such tools, performance review becomes more efficient, effective, and transparent, benefiting both you and your employees.
Incorporating ropay for Seamless Onboarding
In the pursuit of a streamlined onboarding process, roPay, our cutting-edge employee management platform, offers 3 flexible methods for employee onboarding:
- Onboarding via Invitation Link: Simplify the onboarding process by inviting employees via a link to fill in their details directly into the ropay system.
- Manual Input and Auto-Save: Employees can manually input their details on the ropay platform, ensuring automatic and secure saving for hassle-free onboarding.
- Excel Sheet Upload: For bulk employee onboarding, use the convenience of uploading an Excel sheet, seamlessly importing multiple employee profiles into the ropay platform.
These flexible onboarding methods empower HR teams to choose the approach that best suits their needs, making it easy to integrate new team members into the company quickly and efficiently. For a more detailed guide on how to use ropay for your onboarding process, please watch this demo video.
Building an Effective Remote Onboarding Process
Remote onboarding in Nigeria is a strategic investment that surely pays off in the long run. By mastering remote onboarding, organisations, whether fully remote, hybrid or onsite can cultivate a talented and engaged workforce, poised for success in the digital era.
To stay ahead of the curve, embrace the future of work in Nigeria with roPay’s innovative onboarding solutions. By using roPay to streamline and improve your onboarding process, you can set your new hires up for success and reap the many benefits that come with it.