Four out of five employees who leave in the first six months make up their mind to do so in the first 48 hours. Good induction is critical!
Here are the biggest induction pitfalls - and how to avoid them.1. Starting induction on the first day!
The risk: There could be a lengthy gap between an offer being accepted and a new employee starting their role. That’s weeks or even months during which an individual, who you’ve spent serious time and money on recruiting, could get cold feet or be poached by a competitor.
The solution: Treat your new employee as a member of the team from their offer date. By ensuring regular contact, inviting them to team events or socials, you can start building relationships and create real engagement. This period is also a good time to bring a new employee up to speed on some aspects of your company and their role within it so when it comes to their first day, they’re already familiar with how things work.
2. Lack of structure
The risk: An induction process which is unstructured or where it’s unclear to the employee what to expect is unsettling for them and gives the worst possible impression of your company. In the first few days and weeks there’s a much greater risk of losing people – don’t let them feel they’ve made the wrong decision in joining you.
The solution: Plan your induction process carefully and ensure that those involved know what they’re responsible for. Clearly communicating your induction to new employees makes them feel more in control, and that they’re working in an environment that’s professional and where they’re treated with respect.
3. Not using technology to track induction
The risk: There might be any number of individuals involved in the induction process, from HR to line managers, to colleagues and other employees the new team member will be working with. There could be online or offline training to complete and administrative tasks to fulfil.
The solution: Organising all the pieces of the puzzle seamlessly is not easy. Tracking induction using technology ensures that nothing is overlooked and that the appropriate person can oversee the whole process and resolve any problems without delay.
4. Inconsistency
The risk: Your carefully planned induction process should be delivered at its very best every time, not just on a good day. Stressed or distracted staff will put new joiners off from the start and undermine the induction process.
The solution: Ensure that there is just one person responsible for overseeing and managing induction, who manages the process and any other individuals involved. Having too many people managing induction is confusing and all too easily leads to lack of ownership.
Want to learn more about Induction and how to begin the perfect employee journey?