How to Introduce and Train New Staff Members Remotely

Working remotely is a hot topic nowadays, with employers all over the world adjusting to a remote workforce with no real end date in sight. The new policies have forced businesses to adapt and change, shifting to delivering work tasks, projects and communications remotely. One of the biggest challenges when maintaining a remote workforce is introducing and training new staff members. In a normal scenario, a new employee would go through a face-to-face induction process, followed by set training tasks and most importantly, bonding time with their new colleagues. With this no longer an option for new starters, we’re going to look at the best way to improve engagement with new employees and ensure you’re delivering effective and efficient training.

Utilise Technology

When you’re reliant on video chats, phone calls and online chats, you need to ensure your new employees have access to reliable tools. There are plenty of free platforms to communicate with colleagues about work-related issues, project collaboration and office chatter. Slack is a popular option with larger companies and is very easy to use. Zoom and Google Hangouts are also ideal for video conferencing and screen sharing during training sessions. By encouraging daily communication using these channels you will help develop a routine for your new employee, as well as encourage team bonding by allowing them to virtually meet colleagues face to face.

Provide the Right Equipment

Employees working remotely need to have the equipment they need to work comfortably and effectively from home. A simple checklist for new starters will ensure everyone has what they need. Aside from their laptop, computer and phone, employers can help create a good home working environment by providing office chairs and even desks if needed. Take a look at the official government guidelines for expenses and benefits for homeworking for more information.

Be On-Demand

Remote working is different for each person. While some will be able to maintain a 9-5 schedule, others may have to plan their workday around childcare or other caring responsibilities. By creating a catalogue of on-demand training resources, you take away the pressure for employees to join a live training session if they’re unable to attend. Record all training sessions and lectures, upload all presentations to a shared folder and encourage employees to share their own resources with their team. It’s a great way to get new employees up to speed and will allow them to dip into these training resources outside of working hours.

Focus on Achievements

Remote working can often cause panic in employers as they worry that their staff aren’t working as efficiently as they would in a traditional office setting. Now that working remotely is the norm for most workers, it’s important to focus on what has been achieved that day – not counting the minutes spent in front of the screen. Without a set schedule, workers must plan their own workday. This may mean that they start later or take a longer break to meet childcare commitments, but if at the end of the day the work is done and deadlines are met, there shouldn’t be a problem. Remote working is about trusting and respecting your employees to get the job done for the good of the company. Yes, new starters will probably need more guidance and structure as they navigate their first few weeks – but try not to focus on time logging and more about daily goals achieved!

Be Clear and Transparent

One of the biggest challenges of managing a remote working team is ensuring everyone is on the same page. All employees, new and old, must be 100% confident in your expectations of them while working in your company. This includes knowing who to speak to for HR issues and being aware of their job role, responsibilities and places to connect with their teammates. Access to all company materials (handbooks, HR policies, intranet etc.) should be made available as soon as a new employee joins the company. It’s important to nurture a supportive culture, even if it’s over video calls and online chats, this daily interaction will ensure that your team stays connected.

When it comes to navigating the new ‘normal’ – the most important thing to remember is that your remote workers feel just as much part of the team as your established workers. To buy office furniture you can rely on, shop with Office Furniture Online today, or if you want more helpful advice for office work, read our other blogs.