Keep the lines of communication open throughout the pre-boarding period, continuing to make them feel welcome and engaged, even before their first day.
Ergonomics — Be precise or pay the price
The remote work explosion has forced HR professionals to broaden their workplace safety policies to account for employees working in a home office. Unhealthy workstations — especially at home — can result in costly issues for both employer and employee. According to OSHA, there are major costs involved in work-related musculoskeletal injuries:
It is estimated that employers spend as much as $20 billion a year on direct costs for MSD-related workers’ compensation, and up to five times that much for indirect costs, such as those associated with hiring and training replacement workers.
Is that kitchen table ergonomically correct for sitting at the computer? How about the living room couch? Make sure the remote worker has the necessary information and equipment to set up their workspace for proper ergonomic habits.
This has the additional benefit of establishing your company as one that cares about its employees.
Invest in a best-in-class pre-boarding software tool
With remote hires being very much the new normal, a pre-boarding software tool is crucial for streamlining the new hire process and saving immeasurable time when onboarding actually begins.
From preloaded form templates to e-signatures to tailored welcome messages and videos, automating the process can easily be done from and to anywhere in the world.
This type of software not only increases efficiency for HR, but also showcases your company branding, while making the new hire feel engaged, welcome, and prepared — a true part of the team.
I-9 documentation — fully signed and verified
Any good pre-boarding program will feature effective I-9 compliance software, so that all 1,200+ I-9 rules and regulations are followed seamlessly, and without error. Failure to E-Verify within 3 business days of the employee’s first day of work can result in heavy fines or even jail time. And with ICE I-9 audits surging by almost 400% in the last two years, this is more critical than ever before.
Optimizing employee engagement is vital to the pre-boarding process, and the key to ensuring your new hire’s journey with the company is a long and successful one.