Onboarding a new employee isn’t easy. It takes a lot of paperwork to ensure your new hire is up to speed and ready to join the team.
Add in a global pandemic, and your long list of things to do just got longer, given the new safety guidelines of in-person work and the chaos of working remotely.
It’s enough to want to hold off on hiring anyone new until it all blows over, but that’s not possible. While the business may not be usual in any sense of the word, your doors are still open; you can’t delay onboarding if you expect to keep them open for however long this pandemic lasts.
1. Use an In-House ID Card Printer
While some offices were ready to pivot to remote work as soon as the pandemic started, other companies struggled to embrace work-from-home policies. Some, depending on the nature of their business, couldn’t work from home at all.
If you must work in the office, employee photo ID cards are an essential step in your office security. These simple yet effective badges help you tightly control who can come in and out of your building at any time.
It also provides a simple and paperwork-free way to track time, which comes as a huge boon if you adopt staggered shifts.
An ID card hanging from a retractable lanyard is an obvious visual cue for your security staff. It proves your new hire is where they’re supposed to be. More still, it comes equipped with patented technology that allows them contactless access to spaces and data, removing the need for in-person security at every door.
If you don’t already have an in-house printer, take the time to research an ID card and printers to ensure you get the best ID plastic card printer system for your business.
2. Create an Online Hub of Protocols
Whether in-person or remote, your new hire will need to learn regulations, policies, and other important details about your business.
While in the past you may have provided them a small binder containing all these documents inside, it’s time to upgrade to the 21st century. The same goes for their hiring package, sick leave, and health coverage.
Digitize these files and host them in an easy-to-find electronic hub. If your new hire has a question, they can “control+f” and look for answers there first.
3. Address COVID-19
Now’s not the time to put your head in the sand and hope that the worst of it has passed. As a manager or owner, you have a responsibility to your employees to provide leadership in this unprecedented and challenging time.
Consider creating another COVID-19 hub for your employees — not just your new hire.
Here, you’ll want to take a candid approach to the pandemic when discussing its effects on your business as well as everyone’s mental well-being. It’s also a good idea to share up-to-date health information from the CDC and WHO, as well as your company’s rules regarding social distancing and hygiene.
These resources may reassure your staff in a challenging time, and it will demonstrate your proven leadership skills.
Bottom Line
Onboarding can be chaotic at the best of times, so the pandemic can make it feel even more challenging. Luckily, there’s a way to simplify the onboarding process. Remember these tips when you welcome a new hire!
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