The Small Business Environment has diversified beyond its monetary and physical horizon. With diversification and improvement in technology, small businesses have discovered methods to onboard remote employees and keep them posted for critical organizational jobs. However, the process of onboarding for remote jobs is tedious and requires the following steps or tips to be followed thoroughly.
Tips to onboard remote employees
Although it sounds like a general process of recruitment, onboarding employees for remote jobs requires a streamlined approach. Therefore the application of the following tips are very necessary-
Reduction of employer-employee distance by staying connected
Remote Jobs for Small Businesses are beneficial as it reduces operational cost and minimizes overhead expenditure. However, since the employees work from a segregated environment the employer needs to provide ample support tools and guidance for the employees to feel that they belong to the business environment. Therefore the employer may start by giving proper introductions. During online conferences, the employers must introduce the employee to the existing employees of the organization. Whether it is a permanent employee or a trainee, equal importance should be allocated to resolve any problems faced by him or her. The employer should have an empathetic approach towards the employee which is possible only through proper orientation training. Secondly, the employer must look to take in-person training of the employees. This will prioritize the employee’s role in the business organization fostering a sense of growth and diversification. Onboarding of remote employees is enhanced when off-site meetings and online teleconferences are held in the organization. Thirdly, the employees should be provided with requisite digital tools like media applications and video-conferencing applications to stay connected and perform work operations smoothly.
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Start things right with a great welcome email
A Great Welcome Email boosts the confidence of the incoming employees. The welcome email should consist of a congratulatory message of encouragement from the existing employees of the organization. The employer should appreciate the talents and contributions that are expected by the employees to be brought into the business organization. Therefore a welcome email is considered to be a prerequisite for boosting the incoming process of onboarding remote employees in small businesses.
Try some remote onboarding activities
Remote Onboarding Activities keep the employees engaged and focused. Moreover, the employees who are connected only through social mediums and digitally connected platforms require breathing space. The remote onboarding activities provide them with a platform to interact and get to know each other. As an employer, you should encourage online activities like the Acronym Game. Here the employees are given random letters. They are allotted a time of one minute within which they have to suggest a suitable acronym for the letter allotted to them. The employees can also get involved in games like Desert Island and Camera Roll Icebreaker. In the first activity, the employees are asked to mention three things that they would like to take with themselves on a deserted island. This revelation speaks a lot about the characteristic features of the employees and how they perceive their surroundings. In the case of Camera Roll Icebreaker, the employees can pick topics like pets, hobbies etc., and share pictures concerned with the relevant topics.
Create an effective feedback mechanism
The employees absorbed into the organization through remote onboarding should become accustomed to the activities in the small business organization. For this effective communication between the employer and employees is necessary. Therefore an effective feedback mechanism should be established to encourage such communication. The basic objectives of the feedback mechanism for remote onboarding of employees are-
Setting Clear Expectations- The goals and objectives of the employees should be set priorly. There must be a balance between what the employers expect and how much the employees are capable of delivering.
Encourage regular check-ins after onboarding- Maintain regular communication with the remote employees onboard is important. The employer should look after the needs and requirements of such employees. Regular check-ins consist of a personal message enquiring about the employee’s physical and mental well-being.
Help Employees set goals- The feedback mechanism ensures direct communication between the employer and employees. The remote employees who are onboarded can express clarity over the objectives and goals they want to set for themselves. Usage of online goal-setting tools achieves a lot of importance under such circumstances.
Summary
The remotely on-boarded employees are an asset to the small business organizations since they work at a considerably low factor cost and are an important part of the dedicated workforce or person employed by an organization. Therefore their needs and priorities should be taken care of to foster organizational growth and prosperity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Onboarding of Remote Employees Profitable for Small businesses?
The Small Business Environment has diversified beyond its monetary and physical horizon. With diversification and improvement in technology, small businesses have discovered methods to onboard remote employees and keep them posted for critical organizational jobs.
Is Desert Island game a viable means to foster Employer-employee relationships in onboarding remotely?
The employees can also get involved in games like Desert Island and Camera Roll Icebreaker. In the first activity, the employees are asked to mention three things that they would like to take with themselves on a deserted island. This revelation speaks a lot about the characteristic features of the employees and how they perceive their surroundings.
Why is setting clear expectations for the remotely on-boarded employees important?
The goals and objectives of the employees should be set priorly. There must be a balance between what the employers expect and how much the employees are capable of delivering.
How should a feedback mechanism be established in a small business organization?
The employees absorbed into the organization through remote onboarding should become accustomed to the activities in the small business organization. For this effective communication between the employer and employees is necessary. Therefore an effective feedback mechanism should be established to encourage such communication.
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