The induction for new staff is vital to get right for any organisation regardless of its size. After going through an often lengthy recruitment process to ensure the best possible candidate is hired it is imperative that any new employee is introduced properly to the company’s procedures, culture and values as soon as possible. Inductions are usually conducted face to face however this being 2020 a lot has changed, and this has not been possible for every organisation. Companies have had to be more creative and introduce different induction programmes.

The core principle remains the same, the induction of your new staff should be used to introduce new employees to the company, their role, health and safety procedures, their managers and colleagues, sign any HR/payroll paperwork and also to identify any training needs. This helps ensure a quick transition and gets the new employee ready to contribute meaningfully as soon as possible. So if you as a company feel that your induction could do with some work or needs to be slightly adapted due to remote working we have some helpful tips and advice.

1. Preparation is Key

It is essential that any new employee is made to feel welcome when they first start working. There is nothing worse on an employee's first day that the company is not ready or expecting you. This has happened to me in the past, where there was no desk prepared, computer had to be set up and there was no clear plan of what I was supposed to do. It was an incredibly frustrating experience and left me doubting whether or not I had made the correct decision. The good news is that this is one of the easier fixes. Ensure that all relevant equipment has been arranged in advance and that all relevant personnel know about any new starter. It is also important to remain in contact with the inductee in between the acceptance of the offer and official start date. I'd also suggest that you have them arrive slightly after the rest of the team or manager has started that day, to ensure everything is in place - whether this is online or in an onsite environment.

2. Complete all necessary paperwork straight away

The first thing any new employee should do once settled on the first day is complete any necessary paperwork. Even if the new starter is working remotely, an easy to read and understand pack should be sent to new employees immediately upon starting, whether this is online or in the post.

3. Introduction to manager and rest of team.

The introduction of a new staff member to their new team and manager is extremely important. It is important that any manager takes time out of their schedule to spend some time with their new team member. This allows them to go through the job description, what is expected of them, make sure that all equipment provided is working well and go through any procedures. On top of that the manager can then introduce the rest of the team and help with the initial socialization process. We find that scheduling a group/team video call on the first day works well! Also if the new starter is office based, small things like a tour of the facilities and health and safety requirements/fire exits etc are appreciated more when it comes from a manager.

4. Create an on-going support network and clear objectives

A good induction doesn’t just end once the training period has been completed, it is continuous. Make sure that you meet regularly online to make sure that any new staff member is settling in well and knows exactly what is expected of them in their new role. If any further training is required this should be identified by now and dates set to provide this. Give constant and regular feedback so that everyone knows exactly where they stand. This is especially important when working remotely as it can often be isolating. Also don’t be afraid to ask for feedback, how else can we improve?

How we can help employers with their inductions at Turas Nua

At Turas Nua we understand that a lot of companies do not have the infrastructure to conduct online training or have the space to complete larger inductions anymore. Luckily, we are here to help. If you need candidates with specific training completed before hand let us know. We at Turas Nua offer all our customers online courses and training programmes, which can be easily adapted to suit the needs of any company. If you would like any advice or help with your next induction process, please email recruitment@turasnua.ie or visit our website to find out more