Virtual Onboarding is a virtual process that involves video conferencing tools, webinars, and online tools. This virtual process helps in onboarding candidates at ease. Since the advent of Covid 19, companies have started working remotely, and the virtual onboarding processes adopted by companies have made the entire process more tangible.
Hurdles in Virtual Onboarding
Virtual Onboarding might appear to be an easy task, but it requires efficiency right from the onset of the onboarding process. These include difficulties in maintaining employee satisfaction, gap information, miscommunication, etc.
Difficult to Manage
Employee management becomes a difficult task. Online interaction reduces the tendency and ability to connect with other co-workers. This makes it difficult for the employees to interact and risks employees’ comfort at work.
Highly Dependant on Technology
Since the entire process is virtually handled, the whole company is highly dependant on technology. Any technical glitch can be problematic for the company and the employees. All the important data and information are backed up on the software and systems, making the entire company highly dependent on the technology.
Miscommunication
Miscommunication is a significant challenge of virtual onboarding. Lack of proper communication between the new employee and manager increases the risk of misunderstanding a role or responsibility, creating confusion. Often, addressing problems on time can also affect productivity.
Fears, Careers, Robot Peers: PyjamaHR Support Pros Talk AI
Join us for an authentic conversation with members of Help Scout’s own customer service team as they discuss the ways AI is changing their jobs, how they really feel about it, and how they’re taking charge of their own career direction.
Lack of Teamwork
Lack of communication often leads to a lack of coordination in teamwork. Due to little or no interaction in the virtual onboarding process, the employees have very little understanding of their co-workers. The lack of teamwork and human connection often causes problems in achieving the set goals and targets of the company.
Steps in Building a Virtual Onboarding Program
As opposed to the cons, the Virtual onboarding process has many advantages. Following certain practices on the virtual onboarding process makes it a critical factor in the success of hiring. Some of these steps include getting a team management software, knowing the necessity of technology, creating awareness about essential employee services, etc.
Getting a Team Management Software
Team Management Software assists in managing teams’ tasks and projects in one place. It is important in the online onboarding process and facilitates team collaboration, effective team management, and communication. These management tools increase productivity and improve the quality of team projects.
Walk-through of Necessary Technology
Get employees acquainted with the software solutions that guide users through a series of actions to help them complete a process. The first and foremost thing is to provide and deliver the laptops to the employees. They help in training employees on specific workflows, tasks, new software, and apps. It assists in the onboarding phase as knowing the necessary software and technologies can be helpful at any stage to walk people through the goals and objectives of the company.
Awareness About Essential Employee Services
The new hires must be aware of the employee services and other benefits and where can they avail themselves. In the virtual onboarding process, everything is technologically handled, so the employees should be aware of the services and benefits offered as part of the company. These may include overtime, paid leaves, incentives, bonus, health insurance, etc.
Awareness Regarding the Company Culture
Since the entire onboarding process is virtual, one may find it difficult to immerse the employee in its culture, values, and mission. One way to combat this is via a cultural ambassador assigned to schedule video calls with employees about less formal benefits. These may include participation in social activities, employee resource groups, virtual games, etc. Culture training is also a beneficial process where employees can share their experiences with the new hires. This may boost up communication and cultural bonding.
Team Introductions Through Virtual Meetings
Introducing the entire team is essential when it comes to the virtual onboarding process. The new hires must be aware of the teammates and the different roles and responsibilities assigned to them. This may help new hires to approach the person when in need directly. It also ensures that the new hires are well aware of the team’s goals and objectives and who they are supposed to report.
Scheduling Virtual Training
The new hires must use their potential to boost the company’s productivity and help achieve its goals. For this, it is required that the new hires are properly trained to use their skills in the best possible way. In the virtual onboarding process, virtual training is essential to ensure that the new hires have developed their full potential to benefit the company.
Frequent Communication and Follow-ups
The new hires may need a lot of guidance and support. In such a case, they should ensure that their problems are resolved and someone is available to attend them via call, email, video, or chat. To ensure that the onboarding process is more effective and aligned with business and staffing needs, follow-ups and feedback are essential.
Virtual Onboarding Vs In Person Onboarding
Ever since Covid 19 shook the entire world, everyone has been confined to their homes. With a large number of employees working remotely, the jobs of HRs has been even more challenging to hire, recruit, onboard new employees virtually. However, the virtual onboarding process offers a comprehensive online platform to search for the best talent for the company. It provides a straightforward rejection of candidates who do not suit the role. Unlike In-person onboarding, which gives only a limited number of candidates and is highly time-consuming, the virtual onboarding process is time-saving. Through virtual onboarding, new hires can easily submit their documents; hiring is more convenient, employees can attend online meetings quickly, etc. Hence, the virtual onboarding process is less tiring and time-consuming as compared to the in-person onboarding process.
