 Effective employee onboarding helps workers understand their roles and their new company, increases morale and can significantly reduce unwanted turnover. But, charged with the task of making new employees feel welcome, managers have a lot to cover, and can easily be overwhelmed. Below are the Ten Commandments of Employee Onboarding to make the process easier.
1. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy employee. Few things are more disappointing than the realization that the job you thought you were hired for is a great deal different than what you’ll actually be doing. As an employer, misrepresenting your employee’s new role destroys trust, and no amount of orientation can fix that.
2. Thou shalt give a written plan of employee objectives and responsibilities. Providing a written plan that details objectives and expectations of future results derails confusion about a new employee’s job function and allows for discussion about concerns or new opportunities.
3. Thou shalt give thy employ thy undivided attention. Letting other work matters distract you during orientation sends the message that they are not that important to you. Prepare a checklist of items to review, and set aside the appropriate amount of time for them.
4. Thou shalt have relevant paperwork ready. Make sure all administrative forms are ready to be filled out and completed on day one.
5. Thou shalt introduce thy employee to thy neighbor. Provide staff members with the new employee’s job description and resume, and advise them to share their own position description and ways their positions will interact.
6. Thou shall set up thy employee's workstation. Before the employee arrives, stock his or her workstation with supplies such as paper, pens, and business cards. Make sure the phone and computer are all set up and ready to go. Leave a copy of an organizational chart, staff list, and phone director.
7. Thou shalt schedule one-on-one time. This ensures you connect regularly with the new employee.
8. Thou shalt create a balance. Vary the first day’s schedule by including less formal gatherings between meetings. Arrange a group or a staff member to take the new hire to lunch on the first day.
9. Thou shalt clarify the company culture. Provide the employee with information, policies, and benefits. If there is a company handbook, leave that on the desk, as well.
10. Thou shalt think beyond the first few days. After 90 days, request formal feedback on the new employee’s performance from their supervisor, as well as the employee’s feedback. Take this opportunity to address any concerns or accomplishments.
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A lot of companies have employees that work remotely, and there are many benefits to this arrangement, both for the employee and employer. It’s easy to accommodate schedules, set up meetings on short notice, reduce travel expenses, be more ecologically friendly, and decrease unproductive travel time. It also allows for a more diverse team that brings broader experience and knowledge. But, the most important thing for managers of virtual employees to remember is that the success of any team depends on the people, and there are key things to remember while managing them. 
