Onboarding employees during Hybrid Working

Hybrid working is a topic on many of our lips at the moment. Giving employees flexibility to work where they’re most productive comes with a whole host of benefits however equally it can come with a few challenges. Onboarding new recruits during hybrid working is certainly not the same as if you’re in the office but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be a great employee experience. In this blog, we’ll be sharing our top tips for onboarding employees during hybrid working.

Be clear with communications and expectations

From day one of your recruitment process, be as clear as possible about the amount of time you’re expecting employees to work from home and how often they’re expected to work on location or in the office. Letting new employees know where they’re expected to be and when is especially important on the first day. If employees aren’t required in the office for their first day, be crystal clear about when they’re expected to collect or receive any equipment required for their role such as laptops, PCs etc.

Be creative with ways to be virtually social

The last 18 months have been like nothing any of us have experienced before but within that, each and everyone of our experiences have been different. Starting a new job during this “new normal” we’re all living in is challenging socially for many people. Some employees will feel more confident socializing than others. Creating a number of socializing opportunities which can be done both in person and virtually will help new employees settle and get to know others in the business.

It’s common for new recruits to have initial meetings with various employees from around the business. Support your new employees with this and if possible, let them decide how they’d prefer to conduct these meetings. Some may be happy, even eager to do these in person whereas others may prefer to keep these virtual for now.

Creating a combination of socializing events which can be done both in person or virtually is ideal during hybrid working so consider fun activities such as a weekly quiz where employees at home can join online and those in the office can participate too.

Mixing events are a great way to try and encourage new employees to speak to people they may not necessarily speak to on a day to day basis. Here at edays, we’ve hosted a number of Emeets, a virtual event where we’ve joined a social call and let Microsoft Teams split us randomly off into groups. We’ve been presented with a number of questions to ask the other in the aims of getting to know each other better.

EVP including absence management

Having a strong employee value proposition in our opinion, is a necessity for all businesses regardless of where you work but is extra important during home or hybrid working.

Benefits such as an EAP helps to ensure that your employees are receiving the support they need during challenging times. Including Absence Management Software such as edays as part of your EVP is great for new starters as it allows them to take control of their holiday and absence management.

Requests can be quickly and easily be approved by managers therefore saving time and reducing admin headaches. For employers, it’s great for supporting both new employees as well as existing ones as it allows you to keep a clear view of where employees are and when – who are planning on taking holiday or who have taken time off due to sickness.

Ensure support is there and schedule periodical check ins

Starting a new job can be a nerve-racking time for many of us, despite how many years of experience we may have had. Managers should always let their new employees know that support is there if needed. During hybrid working, employees and managers are less likely to cross over in the office therefore scheduling periodical check ins, either virtually, face to face or having a mixture is important to ensure both managers and employers are happy with how the new employee is settling in.

Think about those employees who might not be as local

Many businesses are benefiting from a wider employee pool as Working From Home and Hybrid working have become more popular since the start of the pandemic. Many are recruiting from outside of their local area as the amount of time expected to be in the office has decreased. This might mean you’re employing people who have never visited the town or city your office is based in. If this applies to you, one added extra we wanted to throw in as an idea was a little local guide!

Think about all the essentials your employees might need when visiting your offices and pop them together in a guide. How to get to your office should be a starting point so include location and distance from closest car parks/train/tram/tube stop.

Alongside this, a list of amenity recommendations like local coffee shops, the best place for a quick lunch bite, local supermarkets, pharmacies and also any eateries employees should avoid! This added little extra will be sure to help those employees who aren’t as familiar with your office’s local area.