Right now, there are many leaders who are struggling with how to onboard a new employee who will be working from home remotely and even more, how to engage them!
Truth is, you’re not alone. Yet, it’s not as hard as one might think. How’s that? Just think of it as onboarding a new employee in the office. Before they start, you’ve more than likely already had them to download the HRMS app and complete the necessary paperwork (e.g. employee handbook sign-off, an engaging benefits enrollment walk through and sign-up, direct deposit information, W-4, and I-9 form.)
I bet you’re thinking I-9, how do I complete the verification of it? Easy-peasey. You’re going to have the employee complete their part and then have them email you a copy of the I-9 form and the documents they’re providing to you as their verification. We’ll get to the part of how you can authentically verify the documents they’ve provided shortly.
On your end, you’ve completed the necessary requests to get the employee signed up in the systems they’ll need access to as well as set-up their email account. If the employee will be using a company provided laptop you can send it to them through a carrier service requiring a signature sign-off of receipt and ID (this is to keep you and the employee safe.) Also include any company swag in the same package as the laptop.
Once the new employee logs into the system their first email should be from you and possibly contain the following:
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A list of current company projects and initiatives and who’s leading them
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Connection to the office store for them to order the supplies they’ll need
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Invites to all the company sponsored events whether virtual or socially distanced
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Their very first meeting with you and others via Zoom, WebEx, Google Meets, or any other virtual hosting platform in use
Now comes the fun part! During your first virtual meeting you can formally welcome and introduce the new hire to the team along with who is going to be their co-working buddy while they learn the in’s and out’s. Additionally, you may want to have them also buddy-up with someone from another area who can lend a different perspective. (While in the virtual meeting you’ll be able to verify the employee’s I-9 information if it contained one with a photograph.)
If any of your employees are local and they prefer to meet up at a local office to co-work and they can do it safely, by all means, let them. Most important of all, let the employee know you and the team are there for them and that no question is off-limits, except for where’s the bathroom, duh!