The textbook definition: The technique by which new hires are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors to perform effectively within the organizational structure. MPS Technical definition: The process that gives newbies all they need to know to both hit the ground running and achieve long-term success. Those first weeks and months at a new job are critical. That’s why a plan for onboarding is so crucial. It just makes sense. The sooner a new hire knows his/her way around and feels comfortable in the workplace surroundings and establishes a solid grasp of the job responsibilities, the better he/she will perform. The more engaged and happier and productive he/she will be. The more likely said employee will be to remain on the job long-term. Now, isn’t that the goal? The statistics speak for themselves: • 90% of employees make the decision to stay at a firm within six months of hire. • Onboarding programs can increase retention by 25% and improve employee performance by 11%. • Employees who participate in a structured onboarding program are 69% more likely to stay with an organization for three years. “But all of that takes time and time is money!” Yes, onboarding takes time. To be effective, onboarding must consist of more than the traditional two-hour new-hire orientation. It cannot be a stand-alone event that fits neatly into a small window of time. So, yes, there is a cost to onboarding. But the real question is, can you honestly afford to brush off a more comprehensive onboarding process? When you ignore the need for a genuine onboarding experience, you risk incurring additional costs in a repeat of the whole recruiting, hiring, and training scenario. Not to mention the impact on the remaining team members regarding extra work, change in team dynamics, morale, etc., when the promising newbie doesn’t stick around. Vow to banish the thinking that onboarding is merely the latest buzzword that will soon fade into oblivion OR that only large companies need to be concerned with onboarding. No business is too small to benefit from a concerted effort to fully bring new hires on board. If you want productive, satisfied men and women on your company roster—and who doesn’t—then onboarding is a must. Leaving a newbie to navigate the unfamiliar waters of a new work environment on his/her own will send a loud and clear message that this employee is not essential to the company, that this person is not valued or cared about as an individual. A company who invests in establishing an active onboarding process can’t help but reap the dividends. Come back next week for specific strategies that will have your new hires fitting in and loving the company in no time. Let MPS Technical connect your company with top-quality employees for all your temporary and permanent staffing needs. Contact our team of staffing specialists today.