Sailing the Ship: Onboard the Crew and Train for Retention

According to the SHRM Foundation, “Onboarding is the process by which new hires get adjusted to the social and performance aspects of their jobs quickly and smoothly, and learn the attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviors required to function effectively within an organization” (Bauer, 2010, p. 1).

Last week I explained what workforce management is. If you missed last week’s talk about what workforce management is, rest easy! Here’s a quick recap:

Workforce management is the processes used to optimize workflows from the individual to the company level. Your company’s workflow is dependent upon screening, training, scheduling, communication, workplace policy, and compensations and benefits; integrating people, technology, and machinery. Management of the processes that keep your business functioning require continuous time and attention, and must be done on a day-to-day basis. Workforce management takes place during onboarding and daily labor management, relying heavily on employee satisfaction.

Onboard before you aboard.

From recruiting to training, the initial onboarding process can determine the status of future workflow and your turnover rate. The wrong candidate, a lack of screening, poor training, being unaware of workplace policies are all ingredients for disrupted workflow. Let’s begin by talking about the candidate recruitment process. The recruitment process requires time.  Outsourcing your recruitment process will save time and resources while receiving the best candidates on the market and the perfect match for your company. Your role in the recruitment process should simply be providing a description of job duties, candidate requirements, and your employee handbook, and then reviewing and approving the candidates we send your way. What happens in between, you will be a part of but we will do the work! At HireLevel we will get to know your company’s brand and values, and create tailored position descriptions that will appeal to the best candidates. Our certified staffing professionals will personally interview all candidates, but the onboarding process does not end here.

Let us screen and narrow down the talent pool first so you can spend more time with experienced and qualified candidates. Once you find the right candidate we will prescreen and provide the proper testing to simplify your new hire process. However, this is another aspect of the recruitment process that should not interrupt your daily workflow. By having potential candidates screened prior to hiring, you can ensure the perfect match is being sent to you. Prescreening can be conducted by HireLevel staffing professionals.

Before we go into the importance of training, let’s see what we’ve accomplished:

• Developed tailored job descriptions & reached a greater talent pool
• Interviewed all candidates, narrowing down the best candidates for the opportunity & company
• Screened candidates per drug/skills testing/ clerical requirements
• Saved your valuable time by working with HireLevel through the onboarding process

Train your crew to know the knots and weather the storm

Now, all those hours you freed up can be used for what I will argue is the most important aspect of the onboarding process: training! Detailed and diverse training will ensure an undisturbed, fully functioning, and continuously productive workflow. In addition, quality training increases the likelihood of a happy, engaged workforce. Smart workforce management requires a strong training program with managers and supervisors fully involved in the process. Your employees have been thoroughly educated about your company, the job responsibilities, and all company policies. By now, they know the compensation and benefits plan(s), and have decided this company is a good fit for them. Your new hires are as eager as they will ever be to learn, and it is up to your training program to well equip them with tools for success as well as motivate them to do their job well. This foundation will be the driving force of your company’s workflow, and could make or break the ease of workforce management.

For more information about extensive but efficient onboarding, effective training ideas, and smart workforce management solutions visit www.HireLevel.com.

Follow our 4 Part Series: Sailing the Ship– Workforce Management to Change the Vessel

• Part 1: Workforce Management is the Mainstay
• Part 3: Labor management– Keep a tight watch and chart your course
• Part 4: Employee satisfaction–  It takes a focused crew to sail the ship

References

Bauer, T.N. (2010). Onboarding new employees: Maximizing success. Effective Practice Guidelines.

Alexandria, VA: SHRM Foundation.

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