Engagement can be a challenge in the hybrid work environment and it isn’t limited to tenured team members. It can affect prospective employees and new hires, too.
While a hybrid workforce blends remote and on-site work models to give workers the flexibility and freedom they value, it comes with limitations in the way of communication. With a few clever shifts in HR procedures, you can make the hybrid work environment more productive for you and your workforce.
Please read on for some practical techniques that will enhance your recruitment and onboarding practices to create positive, retention-boosting employment experiences.
Connect via video interviews
Virtual procedures like video interviews offer attractive time and cost savings. Given their anytime, anyplace capabilities, they deliver tremendous flexibility, as well. Firms offering a fast-track interview process that caters to the needs of the candidate are much more likely to successfully hire than those who require lengthy in-person interviews. Virtual interviews are also more efficient in streamlining roles that require multiple hires or require several candidates to start on a specific date.
Expand your search
One of the biggest advantages of remote and hybrid work environments is the ability to expand the candidate pool through digital means. To successfully recruit in this vast landscape, focus your efforts on the platforms and methods that will deliver the best results. Virtual job fairs, for example, can connect recruiters to amazing talent. Utilize appropriate social media platforms like LinkedIn to complement your search.
Reimagine the new hire experience
Take time to review onboarding materials originally designed for in-person training and rethink the overall experience. Which topics and exercises could offer more value in-person and which are better suited for remote learning? For example, short videos may be effective for introducing concepts that can be expanded upon in onboarding workshops. Company history, culture, and processes can all be made more interesting through interactive microlearning platforms.
Make check-ins a priority
New team members are navigating uncharted waters in the way of a different company culture, unfamiliar tasks, and new policies and procedures. They’re sure to appreciate regular informal catch-ups with management where they have an opportunity to ask questions and voice any concerns. Plan to check in with new hires several times a week during their first 90 days. Short video chats are easy to schedule and support. Use this time to find out how new workers are adapting to their roles and to answer their questions. Be sure to include some non-business discussion time to connect on a personal level. Virtual coffee chats, meet and greets, and mentoring can also operate seamlessly in a hybrid work model if they’re organized effectively.
Seek ongoing feedback
Utilize feedback surveys to collect information at multiple points over the first few months of employment. Not only does this demonstrate to new hires that you are invested in their success, but it can be a valuable source of information to continually improve the onboarding experience for future hires.
The successful post-pandemic workplace requires a transformation in recruiting and onboarding processes. In hybrid and remote environments, candidates and new hires need to feel they’re part of the team even when they’re not physically present. More than just a mind shift, companies need to make adjustments to suit hybrid work models and establish new expectations.
For 25 years, companies have relied on The HR Team to help them overcome their toughest organizational challenges. If your firm is ready to reimagine its employee onboarding experience, we’re here to help. Please reach out to our knowledgeable professionals to learn more.
About The HR Team: Founded in 1996, The HR Team is a Maryland-based human resources outsourcing firm committed to developing strategic, customized solutions that respond to the unique needs and cultures of organizations of all types and sizes. Available as a one-source alternative to an in-house HR department or on an à la carte project basis, the company’s flexible service models address the full spectrum of HR needs that many organizations struggle to address. The HR Team helps clients achieve their highest level of success by providing value-driven human resources services that leave them time to focus on what they do best: directing business growth and profitability. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, the firm serves all of Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. To learn more about The HR Team, call 410.381.9700 or visit https://www.thehrteam.com/.
