It is a frequent routine that happens where the supervisor hires someone new, and on the first day, introduces the person to other employees in the office, shows the newly hired individual where to sit, and then just leaves the person alone to figure things out. Not everyone can adjust to this scenario. That is why employee engagement and onboarding are so important. As a new employee, have you ever had that happen to you before where you feel lost the first day on the job due to no engagement? It can be quite lonely, stressful, and awkward to be in that position. By employing proven onboarding practices, employers can avoid this scenario. Onboarding can be quite effective if the employer places the required importance on it so as to improve engagement.

The Onboarding Process

When a new employee is brought into the organization, the onboarding process is necessary for a smooth transition. With this process, employees will be provided with everything needed to feel welcome and to get the job done to the best of their ability. In most cases, this will take time and so the onboarding process is not going to be a one-time event. It is a continued effort that will last for weeks or months. To make it work, it is best to have good communication prior to the first day of employment; getting the new employee prepared for what to expect. This could be a real time-saver. The supervisor should go out of the way to help the new employee adapt to the workplace culture and get familiar with each coworker and their responsibilities. There should be clarity in what the company expects from the new hire as it relates to job responsibilities and accountability. On the job training is also essential; providing the resources needed to succeed.

Employee Engagement

It is the success of the onboarding process that will determine success in employee engagement. This is not only about employee happiness or satisfaction, but it can be indicative of good employee engagement. To foster engagement, onboarding is ideal in the beginning, but emotional commitment is also a plus. This is where the new employee will put more into their responsibilities and work harder to accomplish the organizations’ goals and mission. When an employee is highly engaged, it means they will be passionate about the job and become so much more motivated to do their very best; even when there are challenges. In other words, they will go to lengths when it seems difficult. Employee engagement fosters:

• Improved work performance
• Increased sales
• More productivity
• Lower employee retention
• Loyalty
• Fewer instances of absenteeism

With remarkable benefits like those listed above, it’s not shocking that most employees stick around when they feel engaged and have open communication with their boss and coworkers. Research has proven that onboarding cultivates improved engagement and so it is in an employer’s best interest to facilitate such a process. To learn more about effective onboarding and employee engagement, please head to https://www.reoconsulting.org/