The processes of onboarding and offboarding an employee are two important moments in the life cycle of any person in a company – regardless of the industry and the scope of their responsibilities. The first day on the job and the last one stay in the memory for a long time, so they can either strengthen the brand image as an attractive employer or… leave a distaste. Attention to detail in these processes is key – what to keep in mind when planning an effective employee onboarding and thoughtful company offboarding?
What is onboarding and offboarding?
Onboarding is nothing more than the process of introducing a new employee or worker to an organization. It includes familiarization with the company, organizational culture, team and responsibilities. Well-conducted onboarding of an employee increases engagement, accelerates adaptation and affects long-term retention. And most importantly, it has a significant impact on how the employee perceives the company at first contact, which translates into the final decision to stay with the company permanently.
Offboarding, on the other hand , is a formal (and not only) farewell to the person who is leaving the organization. It’s a time to thank the person for working together, hand over responsibilities, organize documents and collect feedback. Offboarding an employee is not just about administration, but also part of employer branding of brands.
Why is thoughtful onboarding and offboarding in a company so important?
Both the onboarding and offboarding of an employee affect the company’s image – internally and externally. Thoughtful onboarding is a sign of respect and willingness to work together, while professional offboarding shows class, even if the parting is not easy.
In addition, proper planning of these processes improves employee satisfaction and motivation, and reduces turnover. The team, seeing that even employees who leave are appreciated, has a better perception of their workplace. What’s more, such thoughtful actions promote communication and transparency within the company, thereby strengthening its corporate culture.
5 tips for successful employee onboarding
Staging and accountability of onboarding
Onboarding should not be a one-time event. Ideally, it consists of several well-thought-out stages that are implemented analogously each time a new person is hired. An example of a scheme that is quite common is:
- Meeting with the CEO, who talks about the company’s mission and values, while making himself instantly recognizable
- Implementation by the Department Manager – discussion of goals, tasks and tools
- Presentation of the office by the Office Manager – showing the space, procedures and daily practices of the team
Organizing an employee’s onboarding in this way builds a sense of belonging and makes it easier to get started, and most importantly, subtracts stress in the following days, when you don’t have to ask about everything, thanks to a good implementation.
Not all at once!
The beginning of a job is a stressful time – it’s not worth overwhelming a new person with an excess of information! Stretch onboarding over several days or even weeks, depending on the complexity of the role. In this way, knowledge is better absorbed and the person has time to ask questions and adapt.
Getting to know the team during onboarding
A direct introduction to the team members the new person will be working with is essential, but don’t forget the rest of the team, too! A brief introduction to all members of the company – for example, at a joint lunch, during a company-wide meeting, or by email if there are a lot of you – helps build relationships from day one.
Designate a “buddy”
In every company there are questions that are difficult to ask the Manager. That’s why it’s a good idea to assign a so-called “buddy” to a new person – a colleague or teammate who will help you find your way around the company’s daily life.
It’s a great support and a faster way to join the team, as well as a sense of the company’s climate and making it easier to connect with new colleagues.
Welcome pack is a must-have
A welcome pack, or an employee’s welcome pack, is not just the equipment needed for work. It’s also a nice touch that builds a good first impression.
What can it include? Company goodies, a mug, a notebook, or maybe personalized corporate apparel with your logo – a sweatshirt or t-shirt. Company-printed apparel is a great way to emphasize team membership and stand out in style.
For more tips on how to prepare a welcome pack properly, visit our blog in the Welcome Pack category.
5 tips for thoughtfully offboarding an employee
Offboarding? Don’t forget about it!
Surprisingly often companies focus on greetings, forgetting about goodbyes. And this is, after all, an equally important stage. Professionally offboarding an employee is to thank them for the contribution they have made to the organization, and to close the chapter with class.
Communication to the team about offboarding
Don’t leave the team in uncertainty. If someone is leaving – inform them clearly and well in advance. This gives the team time to take over and properly say goodbye to a colleague. It’s not worth making it a secret and generating awkward situations that someone, didn’t know about something. After all, a company is people!
Say “thank you” – in person and on the forum
A kind word costs nothing, and means a lot. Thank the person who is leaving – both personally and publicly on the team forum. It is worth mentioning the successes and contributions that this person has had in the development of the company.
This is also the moment to keep in mind the employees who are staying – it’s worth mentioning at this stage whether you plan to recruit for the position and who takes over what duties if not.
A gift to say goodbye to an employee
Goodbye gifts in the company are a small gesture that stays in the memory. It can be a plant to grow, a ceramic mug, a book…. or something more personal. An employee farewell gift can also be humorous or sentimental – for example,company socks with your logo and some other print that relates to you.
Gather feedback while offboarding
The person who leaves can often openly and honestly say what worked and what needs improvement. It is worth asking for feedback, so you can improve operations and learn lessons for the future.
Both the onboarding and offboarding of an employee are key moments that have a real impact on organizational culture, team atmosphere and company image. A well-planned onboarding allows a newcomer to feel confident and motivated, while a thoughtful farewell shows respect and gratitude for the time spent together. How you greet and say goodbye stays in the memory – both yours and that of the employee or worker. That’s why it’s worth the attention to detail, personalization and authenticity at every stage.
And if you need support in preparing a welcome package, a farewell gift for an employee, or a unique apparel with your company logo – MerchUp is the perfect choice! Let’s create something together that will stay with your employees for a long time!
