What does the first day at a new job look like for a remote employee? Work attire: likely comfy clothes. Start time: flexible, perhaps with a “welcome to the team” conference call at 9 a.m. First assignment: Start getting familiar with new-hire training tools. There’s not a lot of oversight for a new remote employee, meaning the first-day jitters are probably less of an issue.
Studies show that home-based employees are more productive. Besides the benefit this brings to employers, remote work comes with dreamy perks for employees: work-life balance, flexible hours and unlimited workspace options.
However, there are some hidden disadvantages to working remotely. Spontaneous brainstorms, team-building and personal connections with coworkers — all key factors in employee engagement — are missing from the home office atmosphere.
These challenges are especially important for leadership and human resources teams to consider when bringing new remote employees up to speed. Here are three onboarding strategies to keep your remote employees happy and performing at their best.
1. Set up regular check-ins.
A natural first step in the onboarding process is job training. While there are many digital tools available for onboarding remote employees, it’s even more important to anticipate the need for open and frequent communication. Whether training takes place in-office or online, make sure key onboarding staff anticipate questions that a remote employee might have as he or she settles into a new role….