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Hiring remote employees is a great way to draw from a larger talent pool and save money that would otherwise be spent operating an office. However, onboarding remote employees and integrating them with your company can be a difficult process. If you need help onboarding remote employees, this guide has all the information you need.

Preparing Employees

When you’re hiring new employees, it’s important to make sure they’re prepared for the job. Provide remote employees with copies of company policies and any other information they may need. You might even want to make a quick phone call or host a Zoom meeting to help get all your remote employees prepared for work. Vetting employees is also essential, so make sure you run a background check on new remote employees.

Equipment & Software

Working remotely means using technology, and not everybody has that technology available to them. Try to provide as much equipment and software to new remote employees as possible; this makes it easier for new hires to get started and helps you ensure they’re using the right equipment. You can even add in office supplies such as keyboard wrist rests, mousepads, and more.

Training

Learning is one of the biggest responsibilities for new hires, especially in a remote work environment. It’s important to provide proper training to all your new remote hires, whether you’re teaching them about company policies or explaining the basics of using software and other tools that are essential to your company. This training should be provided as early as possible to make sure your employees are ready on day one.

A Warm Welcome

Adapting to a new workplace can be tough for employees, especially when they have to do so through virtual meetings and emails. One of the best tips for onboarding remote employees is to give them a warm welcome once you’ve extended the job offer. A quick phone call to an employee to let them know how excited you are to work together can make a big difference for employee morale.

The First Day

You don’t have to take things too seriously when onboarding remote employees. Make remote their first day fun by holding a small party via Zoom, giving away gifts, or making other kind gestures to let them know they’re welcome and appreciated at the company. From gift cards to baskets and company swag, there are tons of great ways to show appreciation for new employees.

Feedback

Above all else, make sure you’re listening to your new hires during the onboarding process. If remote employees find a particular part of the process difficult, listening to feedback allows you to make adjustments that can benefit your business in the future. By optimizing your remote employee onboarding process, you’re preparing your business to accommodate the workforce of the future.

Revising Your Employee Onboarding Plan

Always keep in mind that it’s never too late to make changes to your remote employee onboarding procedures. If you notice that employees do or don’t like certain aspects of the onboarding process, take note of that and make the appropriate changes moving forward. Flexibility is key to modernizing your business, especially when it comes to forging strong relationships with loyal employees. Making a good first impression is always important, so you can never put too much work into optimizing your remote employee onboarding process.

Not only is making the switch to remote work challenging, but properly onboarding remote employees is difficult, too. Luckily, a little effort goes a long way when it comes to showing new hires you appreciate them and forging long-lasting relationships with employees. Follow these tips to make onboarding remote hires a breeze.