Every day, more companies realise that human resources are the most valuable resource. Machines and equipment can be paid for and upgraded when needed, but good people to work with are extremely hard to come by. Obtaining and retaining talented individuals is becoming a high-priority investment for businesses. To that extent, HR plays a crucial role, even before the initial first day of your future employee. We would like to share some good tips&tricks from business practices to get you going and retain those talented individuals you’ve found.
1. Onboarding begins early
Even sooner than you think. Yes, you may have concluded the negotiating phase and your future employee may have signed a contract, but from that point to the initial interaction is where your employee is most vulnerable. At this stage employees have the most questions and uncertainties, and counter offer from your competitor can sway them over. Beginning your onboarding process from the moment the contract is signed to when your employees start working is crucial as it makes them feel welcomed and involved with your company. Showing that you care about them from the first moment starts building employee experience, trust and relationships right away.
2. Use any means available
All is fair in love, war and employee retention. Special treats for newcomers and a safety net for the first couple of months take the stress off new employees. Breaking the ice with new employees can be daunting for those with low social skills, so being extra mindful about your new employee’s needs goes a long way to show that you care. Think of them as your future assets and investments. The more you invest in them, and the more value they feel, the less likely they will leave.
There are loads of tools and resources available online, where you can outsource such delicate matters. Having the right tool at your side, like Safety Hut, increases your chance of retaining the best talent for years to come. After all, when you invest all that time, effort and money into selecting, interviewing and training your ideal employee, it only makes sense to retain them as much as possible.
3. Communicate both ways
Don’t just push your ways and methods, let the fresh employee breathe and express himself. Communication channels work best when both parties are involved. Having new employees give you feedback on the whole process can lead to adjustments and improvements. Maybe there is something you missed or that the employee finds unnecessary? Whatever it may be, listen carefully to what they say, as their fresh insight into your business can yield valuable information.
4. Short and sweet
Don’t overcomplicate things in both your personal and professional life. Keep your onboarding process light, streamlined and clean from any hustle. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make it count. Your new employee needs to feel welcomed and integrated, not overwhelmed and stacked with a mountain of info. Workplace anxiety is the highest among new hires on day one and in the first week, so doing anything you can to ease them in and elevate all that stress will show them you care.
As time goes by, more and more businesses realise that human resources tops all others. Your company’s time, HR resources, and the entire business depend on the quality of the people running it. Losing any of them can be catastrophic result for the entire operation. When a machine breaks down from losing an essential part, the same logic applies to your company when an employee leaves. Such events are easy to avoid with proper employee onboarding and retention investments.
