As organizations plan for their “return-to-office” adaptation, we need to stay mindful of the fact that while this will be an adjustment for the pre-existing team, it will be an entirely new experience for people you hired remotely.
Onboarding can be easy to push off when talent are well into their employment with your organization, but the value is undeniable, with reports suggesting effective onboarding programs positively impact employee productivity and retention rates.
Here are some easy to implement strategies to re-onboard employees who started work in a remote environment throughout the pandemic.
Tips to Re-Onboard Employees Who Started Work in a Remote Environment
Allow Remote Hires to Bond as a Cohort
Allow remote hires to bond as a cohort by creating structured opportunities for them to interact and get to know each other which may include some icebreaker or “speed networking” activities and getting oriented with the facilities as a group to ensure they feel comfortable and confident in their new environment.
Create a Buddy System
Pair each remote hire with a more tenured employee who can answer questions about the physical office space and organizational norms that they may not have picked up on when working from home. You could also form groups to engage in informal team building activities to get better acquainted on a larger scale.
Offer Team Building Opportunities for Staff
Casual team building events like lunches, coffees or small outings may be helpful for your entire workforce, allowing people to get reacquainted after spending more than 18 months apart. Employees that are better socialized within the company network may feel more connected to their team, and the organization as a whole.
Check in Regularly
You may feel like you have already done the work of getting your remote hire up to speed, but the office is an entirely new environment. Take them to lunch and have a one-on-one meeting with them their first week back, as you would have done if they had started their job at the office, and make plans to follow up as regularly as possible.These strategies are simple, but can go a long way in elevating the employee experience from day one. Set intentions early for higher-touch relationships with remote hires, and follow-through with plans for in-office programs and support to make them feel valued. Your business will be better for it.
