How a new hire is brought into the company is crucial to their acquiring the knowledge, skills and behaviors needed to dive confidently into work. There are administrative tasks and role-specific training, as well as integration with the team to help build the relationships and strong working dynamics that create loyalty to the company.
The science of onboarding is much more elaborate today. It should not be confused with orientation, which is basically a crash course where you find out where the nearest restroom is and other essential information. Onboarding is an extended process that can last from about three months to a year and is intended to introduce the company's policies, culture, business processes and systems to a new employee.
Whether you transitioned to a remote-work environment because of the COVID-19 pandemic or you have been in the digital space for a long time, a strong culture is essential to your bottom line. For starters, it helps employees develop healthy relationships with one another, makes them to want to show up for work, and improves productivity.